The leadership of the "Yabluko" party believes that at this stage of development the party has fulfilled its historical mission: this concerns "preventing Ukraine's slide into an authoritarian regime, the overthrow of Leonid Kuchma's regime, the democratization of society, and ensuring honest elections of the President of Ukraine." \n \nAs reported by the press service of the "Yabluko" party, in connection with the change in the political situation in the country due to the Orange Revolution, a natural process of consolidation of political forces is taking place. "Therefore we have decided that for the further successful fulfillment of the programmatic tasks of the 'Yabluko' party, for the consolidation of Ukraine's democratic forces as a whole, it would be expedient to merge the 'Yabluko' party and the 'Batkivshchyna' party," stated the head of the "Yabluko" party, Mykhailo Brodskyi. – "'Yabluko' is a party democratic in spirit, and we can resolve such issues only at a joint party congress, by secret ballot. For example, a decision to dissolve the party can be adopted by no fewer than two-thirds of the delegates' votes." \n \nThe congress of the "Yabluko" party has already been scheduled; it will take place approximately on March 12 or 19 in the capital. It is expected that the congress may conclude with a meeting of the political council with the participation of the leaders of "Yabluko" and "Batkivshchyna." Currently, conferences are being held in the regional organizations; the regions are discussing the issue of the party's further activity and determining their vision of development paths. "How 'Yabluko' will develop depends on the congress," states Brodskyi. – "Of course, there is a position and proposals of the political council, but we want the decision on the party's future to be adopted by tens of thousands of fellow 'yabluchnyk' members."