KIEV, April 21,/ITAR-TASS/. Parliament Speaker Alexander Turchinov, Verkhovna Rada-appointed acting President of Ukraine, told the Ukraina television channel on Sunday that he would take into consideration the local population's opinion when appointing governors of Donetsk and Lugansk Regions.

"Already today I am prepared to uphold the appointment of governors before changes in the Constitutio, to be suggested by the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk Regions take effect". He said a reforiming of local self-government is impossible without introducing changes to the Constigtution. "The introduction of changes to the Constitution requires, at least, voting at two sessions," he explained.

Turchinov expects that before the end of May Ukraine's parliament will adopt amendments to the Constitution for extending the rights of local self-government bodies. "I hope that before the end of May we shall be able to vote in the first reading on the question of introducing constitutional amendments," he said, pointing out that the amendments may enter into force "in September or October of the current year".

The acting President added that the central authorities are interested in securing that people at the local level more independenly determine those leaders who would feel responsible for the region.