KIEV, December 24 (Itar-Tass) — President Viktor Yanukovich has appointed Leonid Kozhar as Ukraine’s foreign minister.

A decree to this effect was signed by the Ukrainian president on Monday.

Kozhar, 49, took the position of chairman of the parliament foreign affairs committee. He was elected member of the parliament from the Party of Regions. In 2002-2004 Kozhar was Ukrainian ambassador to Sweden.