EDITORIAL: Ukraine's election: Congress points the way (05/23/04)

EDITORIAL

Ukraine's election: Congress points the way

Last week we reported that leaders of the Helsinki Commission, formally known as the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, had introduced a concurrent resolution "urging the government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent and fair election process for the presidential election on October 31, 2004."

Introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the resolution "expresses its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the Ukrainian people to establish a full democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Ukraine," while urging the government of Ukraine "to guarantee freedom of association and assembly, including the right of candidates, members of political parties and others to freely assemble, to organize and conduct public events, and to exercise these and other rights free from intimidation or harassment by local or national officials or others acting at their behest." The resolution also urges Ukraine's authorities to ensure "full transparency" of the election process, "free access for Ukrainian and international election observers," and "unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to print, radio, television and Internet media on a non-discriminatory basis."

In other words, the concurrent resolution seeks a level playing field for all candidates and an open election process that everyone - candidates, voters, observers and the people of Ukraine - can trust.

Why is this resolution needed? One word: Mukachiv. The April 18 mayoral election in that western Ukrainian city was widely seen as a harbinger of what could happen in the upcoming presidential elections. Mukachiv's mayoral election was marked, and marred, by intimidation, violence and fraud, as well as all sorts of election irregularities. The result, it seems, is that the election was stolen by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party-United, which just happens to be the party led by the chief of the presidential administration, Viktor Medvedchuk. (See our editorial of May 2.)

The concurrent resolution now in Congress "pledges its enduring support and assistance to the Ukrainian people's establishment of a fully free and open democratic system, their creation of a prosperous free market economy, their establishment of a secure independence and freedom from coercion, and their country's assumption of its rightful place as a full and equal member of the Western community of democracies."

It is fitting that the leaders of the Helsinki Commission have taken the lead on this issue. After all, as noted by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission, as he introduced the S. Con. 106, the commission "has long monitored and encouraged human rights, rule of law and democracy in Ukraine," and "it continues to be a stalwart supporter of Ukrainian development as an independent, democratic and market-oriented state."

The senator's words were echoed in the House (where the measure is labeled H. Res. 415) by Rep. Christopher Smith, chairman of the Helsinki Commission, who argued: "By urging the Ukrainian authorities to abide by their freely undertaken OSCE commitments on democratic elections, this resolution emphasizes our commitment to the Ukrainian people and the goal of Ukraine's integration into the Western community of nations." Furthermore, Rep. Smith pointed out that "Developments [in Ukraine] with respect to democracy have been discouraging over the last few years. The elections represent a real chance for Ukraine to get back on the road to full respect for the tenets of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The United States stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they strive to achieve these essential goals."

Why should the U.S. Congress pass a resolution advising Ukraine how to handle its presidential election? Because friends have the consideration and courage to tell each other the truth, and because friends want to see each other succeed and realize their dreams. Thus, we should applaud the efforts of Sen. Campbell and his colleagues to help Ukraine take its next steps toward establishing democracy. At the same time, we hope that at this next crossroads Ukraine will take the right route.

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