For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 18, 2004
Statement on Upcoming Ukrainian Elections
On November 21, 2004, the people of Ukraine will vote to elect their
next president. They have the right and deserve the opportunity to
make their choice freely, without intimidation or fear, from outside or
within.
The presidential campaign and first round of voting did not meet
that basic test. We share the deep concern of the OSCE and other
observers that the election process has fallen short of international
standards. We urge the Ukrainian authorities to allow their citizens
to choose their next president freely.
President Bush has said that the United States has no greater
responsibility than to support the spread of freedom throughout the
world. That includes continuing to support those countries in Eastern
Europe which began down the path of democracy nearly fifteen years
ago. To convey our support for Ukraine's democratic prospects, the
President has asked Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, to travel to Ukraine. We also have funded
efforts to promote a fair campaign and election.
The United States supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the
Euro-Atlantic community, a community which requires a commitment to
shared values. If the election fails to meet democratic standards,
Ukraine's aspirations would suffer. On the other hand, an election
result that reflects the true will of the people would open new
opportunities for stronger U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation and offer the
people of Ukraine a brighter, promising future as a sovereign,
democratic, and prosperous nation.
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