[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E44-E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, 
      AND FAIR ELECTION PROCESS LEADING UP TO THE MARCH 31, 2002, 
                        PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
resolution, which urges the Government of Ukraine to ensure a 
democratic, transparent, and fair election process leading up to the 
March 31, 2002, parliamentary elections.
  I would first like to thank my colleague, Louise Slaughter, for her 
hard work in initializing the development of this important resolution. 
I am appreciative of her leadership on issues relating to Ukraine, and 
I am pleased to have worked so closely with her in crafting this 
legislation. I would also like to thank my House International 
Relations Committee colleagues, Elton Gallegly and Chris Smith, for 
their contributions to this resolution, and to acknowledge their 
commitment to a meaningful democratization process in Ukraine.
  The importance of Ukraine's March 31, 2002 parliamentary elections--
the third parliamentary elections since gaining independence over ten 
years ago--should not be underestimated.
  Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has worked to 
achieve a more western, democratic approach in its governance, and the 
upcoming elections mark an historical crossroads for a country 
undergoing dramatic democratic transformation. Significant challenges 
remain--restrictions on basic democratic freedoms are alarming; its 
nuclear plants are in need of clean-up; the media suffers from blatant 
harassment and government corruption runs rampant.
  Ukraine has also come a long way in just a decade. Its economy grew 
more than six percent last year. It not only voluntarily gave up the 
third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world, but has also consistently, 
with the U.S. assistance, sought to eliminate its stockpile of 
strategic missiles. Basic political reforms have begun in earnest.
  The resolution we have introduced today acknowledges the democratic 
reforms that Ukraine has achieved, but it also sheds light on the vast 
improvements Ukraine must make in order to become a full-fledged 
democracy. The resolution encourages the Government of Ukraine to 
implement basic tools in order to ensure free and fair elections 
including a transparency of election procedures, access for 
international election observers, multiparty representation on election 
commissions and equal access to the media for all election candidates.
  Now more than ever, as Ukraine strives to realize a more robust 
democracy, it needs the encouragement of the United States as well as 
its scrutiny. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important resolution when it comes before them on the House floor.

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