Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is facing opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych in a presidential runoff, pledged on Sunday to fulfill defeated candidates' promises, if she won the vote.
The first round of the presidential vote, won by Yanukovych, took place in the former Soviet state on January 17. Tymoshenko is second, with the gap between the two contenders just above 10%. Ukrainians will choose between Yanukovych and Tymoshenko in a runoff election on February 7.
Tymoshenko, who is desperate to win over voters, was quoted by the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN as saying that in case of her victory she would continue the national policy of incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko and fulfill the promises of democratic candidates who failed to win in the first round.
Tymoshenko said the presidential elections were set to determine Ukraine's future, adding that it was dangerous to preserve the current system of oligarchic power in the country and the ex-Soviet state must embark on a new way of development.
Tymoshenko also said she could not imagine her life without serving Ukraine.
Former central banker Sergei Tigipko, who came third in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, earlier said he would not support any of the candidates but later hinted that he may agree to become prime minister in the new government.
Incumbent President Yushchenko, swept to power by the 2004 pro-Western street protests, gained slightly more than 5% of the January 17 vote. His presidency has been marred by continuous political infighting and economic problems.
KIEV, January 24 (RIA Novosti)
