U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution on Ukraine's elections (08/01/04)

U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution on Ukraine's elections

WASHINGTON - The United States Senate unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 106 late on Thursday night, July 22, prior to adjournment. The bipartisan resolution urges the government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair election process for the presidential election set for October 31. The resolution also outlines measures Ukrainian authorities need to take - consistent with their own laws and international agreements - to ensure an election process that enables all of the candidates to compete on a level playing field.

The measure was sponsored by U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.).

Co-sponsors of S. Con. Res. 106 were: Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

"The October elections will be vital in determining Ukraine's course for years to come. This resolution is a concrete expression of the commitment of the U.S. Senate to the Ukrainian people," said Sen. Campbell. "Ukraine's elections should be a watershed for the future direction of that country of great potential. Ukrainian authorities need to radically improve the election environment if there is to be hope for these elections to meet OSCE standards. By doing so, they will go a long way in restoring the trust of the citizens of Ukraine and strengthening Ukraine's independence and democracy."

"The resolution underscores that an election process and the establishment of a genuinely democratic political system consistent with Ukraine's freely undertaken OSCE commitments is a prerequisite for Ukraine's full integration into the Western community of nations as an equal member, including into NATO," Sen. Campbell added. "Yesterday I raised our concerns about the Ukrainian election with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, who assured me of the OSCE's commitment to encouraging democratic elections in Ukraine."

An identical resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 415, introduced by House International Relations Committee Chairman Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.), together with Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), was reported out of the International Relations Committee and awaits passage by the full House of Representatives.

The following members of the House have co-sponsored H. Con. Res. 415: Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.), Howard Berman (D-Calif.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), Karen McCarthy (D-Mo.), Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Diane Watson (D-Calif.), Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Cass Ballenger (R-N.C.), James Leach (R-Iowa), Dana Rohrbacher (R-Colo.), Edward Royce (R-Calif.), Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Dan Burton (R-Ind.), Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Chris Bell (D-Texas) and Peter King (R-N.Y.).

According to the U.S. Helsinki Commission, Ukraine's pre-election environment has already proven problematic in such key areas as control and manipulation of the media; attempts by national authorities to limit access to international broadcasting, including Radio Liberty; obstacles to free assembly and a free and fair political campaign. Substantial violations in several recent elections, notably, the Mukachiv mayoral election give rise to deep concern over the conduct of the pre-election environment. In addition, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, a non-governmental organization, in its most recent report noted an increase in the number of cases of government pressure against political opposition figures designed to impede their activities.

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