[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 123 (Monday, October 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1792-E1793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO ENSURE THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL 
   ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 31, 2004 ARE FREE, FAIR, AND CONSISTENT WITH 
                        INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 4, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring the attention of my friends 
and colleagues in Congress to an issue of a critical importance to U.S. 
national interests in Europe--the upcoming presidential elections in 
Ukraine on October 31, 2004, just days before our own elections on 
November 2, 2004.
  Ukraine has been a country at crossroads since it first regained 
independence in 1991. It conducted parliamentary and presidential 
elections but the outcome always fell far short of the international 
standards and democratic commitments of its own constitution. Although 
the government of Ukraine adopted recommendations of the OSCE into its 
electoral law, the implementation was lagging. On many occasions, 
international elections observers observed fragrant violations of the 
law at all levels of the Ukrainian political system. The worst abuses 
exploited the so-called administrative resources to virtually shut out 
the opposition candidates from the political process. Despite pressure 
from the United States Government and Congress, these practices 
continued.
  Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, we hoped that these elections would be a 
marked improvement over the past because the government of Ukraine 
understood how crucial they are to ensure Ukraine's integration in 
Europe. Ukraine's democracy and geopolitical orientation are at stake. 
Throughout the past year, many Ukrainian dignitaries traveled to 
Washington to meet with United States Administration officials and 
Members of Congress to assure us that these elections would be 
different.

[[Page E1793]]

U.S. Members of Congress and Administration officials made regular 
trips to Kiev with the same message. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, our hopes were 
crushed when we saw how the 2004 presidential campaign was unfolding.
  According to information collected by international and local non-
partisan monitoring groups, most of Ukraine's 225 territorial election 
commissions are controlled by pro-government political forces that are 
openly supporting the candidacy of the Prime Minister Viktor 
Yanukovych. International observers also estimate that the twenty five 
presidential candidates are not genuine candidates, but are running to 
place Yanukovych loyalists on the electoral commissions. This practice 
compromises the independence of the commissions and makes a complete 
farce out of the Ukrainian election law. State and local Ukrainian 
officials are controlling and manipulating the media to shut out the 
main opposition candidate Victor Yuchshenko. The state officials are 
using illegal means to interfere in the election campaign, giving rise 
to grave concerns regarding the commitment of the Ukrainian Government 
to free and fair elections.
  In fact, our Ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, most recently 
publicly stated that Ukraine is not meeting its commitments to conduct 
fair and transparent elections. I am also concerned by the behind the 
scenes deal between President Putin and Prime Minister Yanukovych. It 
is obvious that Mr. Yanukovych is the preferred candidate of Russia, 
and I wonder how much of the Ukrainian political sovereignty and 
economic freedom have been ceded to Russia in exchange for its 
financial support
  I hope that this resolution will send an important message to the 
Ukrainian electorate and the Ukrainian political elite that the U.S. 
Congress cares deeply about the future of Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens 
must have confidence that the legal system will protect their rights 
and that their political will and their votes will be counted, and the 
result of the elections will not be manipulated. The United States 
hopes to sustain a strong and friendly relationship with democratic, 
sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine. History has shown us that the most 
enduring alliances are sustained between allies who share the same 
values and vision. The elections on October 31, 2004 will reveal 
whether the Ukrainian Government is committed to democracy and the rule 
of law and whether it is willing to become a full and equal member of 
the western community of democracies.

                          ____________________