UCCA to organize delegation of monitors for Ukraine elections (08/29/99)

UCCA to organize delegation of monitors for Ukraine elections

UCCA National Office

NEW YORK - As in previous years, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) will actively participate in Ukraine's electoral process by hosting a delegation of international election monitors. This UCCA delegation will be registered with Ukraine's Central Election Commission and each person will have the right to act as an official election monitor.

Such accreditation will allow each monitor: access to the Central Election Commission's press conferences in Kyiv; access to the various polling sites throughout Ukraine on Election Day; access to the local election commissions; the right to inquire about election procedures with the local election commissions; the right to be present at the opening of the polls, throughout the day, and up to and including when all the ballots are counted and sent to the Central Election Commission; the right to fill out election violation forms when irregularities occur at polling sites.

The UCCA program itself will include: a seminar for all the election monitors upon their arrival in Kyiv; a press conference prior to the elections to announce the UCCA's international election monitor's program; coordination of the travel to the regions for all the election monitors; a local escort from the youth organization Svoboda Vyboru who will assist every international monitor in their respective polling district by helping to arrange for meetings with election commissions, political parties and the press should you so desire, as well as provide for local transportation, food and lodging; a debriefing session following election day to discuss everyone's participation in the regions, election violations, etc.; a press conference following the elections to discuss the findings of the UCCA's election monitors.

The approximate fee for each election observer is $2,400. The fee will cover: round-trip airfare; transportation in Kyiv; hotel in Kyiv (two days); hotel in oblast; round-trip train ticket; local transportation in oblast; Svoboda Vyboru escort; food; entry visas for Ukraine; election materials (all the necessary forms and briefing materials); Central Election Commission accreditation for international monitor status; in-country UCCA coordinator and all UCCA administrative costs; all expenses related to the UCCA press conference.

Please keep in mind that the above expenses are estimates based on current prices in Ukraine. The UCCA is still in the process of looking into discounts for lodging and local train transportation to bring down the cost for each election observer.

Election monitors will be needed in Ukraine the week prior to the October 31 election day (October 24-November 1), but are welcome to come earlier. Those interested in being election monitors may obtain more information and register at the UCCA National Office at (212) 228-6840. The deadline for registration is September 30, 1999. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the UCCA National Office.

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