Генеральне консульство України в Торонто подає офіційні коментарі деяких впливових міжнародних чинників стосовно перебігу та результатів Виборів до Верховної Ради України 26 березня 2006 р.

КОМЕНТАР РЕЧНИКА БІЛОГО ДОМУ:

Subject: McClellan press gaggle, 3/27/06
9:34 A.M. EST
UKRAINE EXCERPT
Go ahead, Andre.

QUESTION: The Ukraine elections, please. You did everything you could to support the current government in Ukraine. Their party came in third. Are you disappointed?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, no. First of all, all indications are that this appears to be a free and fair election. And I think that stands in stark contrast to what we saw in Belarus. We look forward -- they are still preliminary results at this point; the results are still coming in. We look forward to working with the government once it is formed.

But I think if you look back, the Orange Revolution was a powerful example of democracy for people around the world. And on Sunday, the people of Ukraine had the opportunity to cast a ballot in parliamentary elections. The people of Ukraine are continuing to shape their own future. The Ukrainian people have shown the world that they are committed to important ideals of economic freedom and democratic progress and open trade. And that lays the groundwork for a promising future.

КОМЕНТАР РЕЧНИКА ДЕРЖДЕПУ США:

QUESTION: There is a report in The Washington Post today that Mr. Yanukovych would be open to an economic union with Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan as opposed to the alliance with NATO that President Yanukovych was considering or exploring. Can you comment on that and what is the likelihood of the alternative economic union taking place?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I think that's getting ahead of ourselves right now. There's just been an election in the Ukraine, which we , as well as the OSCE, has found to be free and fair, a vast improvement over the presidential election of 2004. We found that in, not only on election day but in the run-up to the election, that this was an election that was conducted according to the international standards of a free and fair democratic election. There was access to media, NGOs were able to do their work, people had access to the polling places. There were some irregularities, but our understanding is that there wasn't anything that could be really characterized as a nationwide problem; they were really localized.

So right now, where we find ourselves, they're going to be finishing the vote tallies. I don't think that they finally certified the results of the election. And the Ukrainian President will call upon the parties in the Rada to form a majority government and I don't think we're at the point now of exactly knowing what coalition might come together. So that gets to your point about somebody proposing new policies for the Ukraine when, in fact, we don't yet have a new government so I couldn't speak to that.

Заява Комісара Європейського Союзу з питань зовнішніх зносин Б.Ферреро-Вальднер

Statement of Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the conduct
of parliamentary elections in Ukraine:

"I commend the people of Ukraine and their leaders on holding free and fair parliamentary elections. The democratic conduct of yesterday's poll and of the pre-electoral campaign are further proof of the consolidation of democratic standards in Ukraine since the Orange revolution. With this step Ukraine has fulfilled a key political priority of the EU / Ukraine Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy, opening new opportunities for Ukraine in its relationship with the EU.

I trust that the government that will result from these elections will continue firmly on the path of reform. This is vital for the Ukrainian people as well as for the future of our relationship."

"Europe by Satellite"

European Parliament delegation observes Ukrainian elections MEPs delegation, led by Marek Siwiec (PES, PL), have arrived in Kiev to follow on the ground the electoral process in Ukraine. Ukrainians will be electing their next parliament on Sunday 26 March.

According to Mr Siwiec, whatever the result of the elections, which come two years after the 'Orange revolution', Ukraine will retain the status of "key neighbour and strategic partner" as set out in the European Parliament's resolution of 28 October 2004. "The changes which followed the 'Orange revolution' have been thorough and sustainable enough to be able to expect genuinely free and honest elections," he said. "And we can hope that the coalition which emerges from the elections will be a loyal partner for the EU, and a government which will continue on the path of reforms and in the pro-western and pro-European direction."

The EP delegation is part of a joint election observation mission organised by the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NATO. The MEPs have started a round of meetings with representatives of the media, non-governmental organisations and the main political parties.

The European Parliament delegation also includes Charles Tannock (EPP-ED, UK), Thijs Berman (PES, NL), `arknas Birutis (ALDE, LT), Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, DE), Zbigniew Krzysztof Ku~miuk (UEN, PL) and Patrick Louis (IND/DEM, FR). They will be in Ukraine until 27 March.

Генеральний секретар Ради Європи стосовно парламентських виборів в Україні

Press release - 173(2006)

Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine

Strasbourg, 27.03.2006 - "Democracy is not about who wins the elections. It is about how the elections are won. The integrity of the Ukrainian vote on Sunday represents a great victory for the Ukrainian people" said Terry Davis following the statement by the International Election Observation Mission which assessed the vote on Sunday as "free and fair".

"15 months ago, the people of Ukraine went to the streets to protest against an attempt to steal their votes and manipulate the outcome. The democratic character of the elections yesterday validates their courage and determination. The outcome may reflect the dissatisfaction of the electorate with the slowness of reforms, but changes in governing majorities are a normal event in every democracy. Ukraine still faces difficult economic and political challenges, but conducting the first genuinely free and fair parliamentary elections in the country is a major step in the right direction. The credit for this goes to the Ukrainian authorities, all the parties and candidates who contested the elections and, above all, the Ukrainian people" concluded the Secretary General.

Генеральний секретар Ради Європи стосовно парламентських виборів в Україні

Страсбург, 27.03.06 "Демократія полягає не у тому, хто виграв вибори, а у тому, як були виграні вибори. Чесність виборів, що відбулися у неділю в Україні, є великою перемогою українського народу", - зазначив Террі Девіс після оприлюднення заяви Міжнародної місії спостереження, яка оцінила вибори у неділю як "вільні і чесні".

"15 місяців тому народ України вийшов на вулиці, аби висловити протест проти спроб вкрасти голоси виборців та підробити результат. Демократичний характер вчорашніх виборів підтвердив його мужність і рішучість. Результат, можливо, відбиває невдоволення електорату повільним ходом реформ.

Проте зміни у керівній більшості є нормальним явищем у будь-якій демократії. Україна все ще стоїть перед серйозними економічними і політичними проблемами. Але проведення перших справжніх вільних та чесних парламентських виборів у країні є великим кроком у правильному напрямку. Честь за це належить українській владі, усім партіям і кандидатам, які змагалися на виборах, і понад все, українському народові", - на завершення відзначив Генеральний секретар.

Заява Держсекретаря у закордонних справах Великобританії щодо виборів в Україні

STRAW WELCOMES 'FREE AND FAIR' ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE (27/03/06)

Following the elections in Ukraine, Jack Straw said:

'I was pleased to learn that the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Right's International Election Observation Mission in Kiev today found Ukraine's parliamentary elections held on 26 March were free and fair.

'Coming only fifteen months after Ukraine's Orange Revolution, born itself out of a severely flawed Presidential election, this is a significant achievement. It represents a big step forward for democracy in Ukraine and the whole Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region . It also marks an important stage in the evolution of Ukraine's relations with both the EU and NATO.

'Ukraine's politicians will now begin the process of negotiating the formation of a coalition government. Experience elsewhere in Europe shows that this can take some time. But whatever the complexion of the new government, the UK stands ready to work with it in support of Ukraine's political and economic reform efforts.'

Заява Держсекретаря у закордонних справах Великобританії щодо виборів в Україні

27 березня 2006 року

Мені було приємно дізнатися про те, що міжнародна місія спостерігачів за виборами у Києві Офісу демократичних інституцій та прав людини ОБСЄ визнала вільними та чесними українські парламентські вибори, які відбулися 26 березня.

Лише п'ятнадцять місяців минуло з часу Помаранчевої революції в Україні, яка зародилася на тлі жорстко фальсифікованих президентських виборів, і це є значним досягненням. Це являє собою значний крок вперед до демократії в Україні та на теренах всього СНД. Це також є свідченням важливого етапу еволюції відносин України з ЄС та НАТО.

Українські політики наразі розпочнуть процес переговорів щодо формування коаліційного уряду. Досвід інших країн Європи свідчить, що це може тривати деякий час. Але яким би не був склад нового уряду, Великобританія готова співпрацювати з ним у напрямку підтримки зусиль України у політичних та економічних реформах.

Спостерігачі Конгресу місцевих та регіональних влад Ради Європи

Free local and regional elections in Ukraine, though overshadowed by parliamentary voting

Kyiv, 27.03.2006 - The elections held on Sunday 26 March in Ukraine are, no doubt, the most free and fair elections of the lower tiers of Government held in the country since independence, according to the observers of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Congress observers pointed out the high voter turnout, the peaceful and calm environment, the highly improved conduct of the scrutiny and the absence of significant irregularities on Election Day. They reported that, in the polling stations they monitored, no violations regarding the legal procedures concerning voters' lists and the use of mobile voting could be found.

The Congress observers emphasized that the predominant focus of the electoral campaign on parliamentary elections had prevented political parties devoting the attention due to local and regional elections.

Referring to the many operational problems in polling stations, the Congress observers noted that the organisation of the local and regional elections on the same day as parliamentary elections had regrettably undermined the progress made to conduct elections in an efficient manner. Overcrowding was prevalent in the vast majority of polling stations mainly due to the length of the ballot papers, the inconsistency in the numbers assigned to political parties/candidates on the ballot papers, the complex burden of delivering ballot papers to the voters and, in some cases, the inadequacy of polling stations. The overcrowding often gave rise to voting outside the voting booths and to family voting, thus compromising the secrecy of the vote. Elderly persons faced special problems in this regard. Election commission members were not always fully aware of the procedures, particularly at the closing of polling stations. The use of the same boxes for all ballot papers unnecessarily added to the time for the counting process.

The Congress observers reiterated the proposal that local and regional elections be organised separately from parliamentary elections. They underlined the need to provide all electoral commission members with professional, timely and adequate training.

Finally, the Congress underlined the need to remove the recent amendment to the Law on the status of members of local councils, granting them a large immunity against criminal and administrative investigations, which represents a clear threat to local democracy and seriously compromises the trust of citizens in local self-government bodies.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe deployed 16 observers in eight Ukrainian regions on election day (Kiev, Chernigov, Crimea, Lviv, Dnepropetrovsk, Charkiv, Odessa and Chernivsti).