News Release
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
No. 168/04
December 1, 2004
UKRAINE ELECTIONS:
EU COMMISSIONER FERRERO-WALDNER SAYS EU COMMITTED TO HELPING UKRAINE FIND A PEACEFUL
SOLUTION
Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, the new EU Commissioner for External
Relations and the EU’s Neighborhood Policy,
said in an address to the European
Parliament today that the EU Commission is very concerned about the significant
breaches of fundamental democratic principles in the recent presidential elections
in Ukraine.
Recalling that, since 1991, the EU has provided the lion’s share of aid to Ukraine
to aid its transition to democracy, she stated that as soon as soon as a decision
is taken concerning a rerun of the ballot, Europe would provide assistance. Ukraine,
she said, was undergoing an historic transformation, and Europe through its Neighborhood
Policy would continue to promote stability and help the Ukrainian people find
a peaceful, political solution to the current situation themselves.
Commissioner Ferrero Waldner’s statement follows:
“In the light of reports of serious and systematic irregularities from the OSCE
election observation mission, it is clear that the official published results
do not reflect the will of the Ukrainian voters. The EU cannot therefore accept
the election results. As you know, the Ukrainian parliament has taken the same
position with an overwhelming majority.
"The EU’s message to the Ukrainian leadership is unequivocal. The democratic
decision of Ukrainians must be respected. At the same time, we are conducting
active crisis management in order to secure a peaceful solution to this problem.
The Dutch
Presidency has sent a special envoy, Ambassador Biegman, to the Ukraine, who
held talks with President Kutchma, Parliament president Lytvyn and Prime Minister
Yanukovych. The European Commission
and the Council
Secretariat were closely involved in this. Building on that, President Kwasniewski
of Poland, President Adamkus of Lithuania and Javier
Solana, High Representative of the EU, undertook a fact-finding mission to
the Ukraine.
The OSCE was also present in the form of General Secretary Kubis. Javier Solana
returned to Ukraine for further talks yesterday
evening.
"In the framework of these discussions alternative solutions are being discussed.
The likely outcome that would be acceptable to all may be a re-run of the ballot.
The Ukrainian Parliament has also voted for a re-run of the second round. Furthermore,
Yushchenko has lodged an appeal against the election results with the Ukrainian
Supreme Court. This difficult situation proves that this problem can only be solved
politically. A political solution is, however, not yet emerging because those
involved do not agree on whether an entirely new second vote should take place,
or if it should be restricted to reruns in certain districts. Support for Yanukovytch
is receding, as demonstrated just this morning in the Ukrainian Parliament which
carried by an overwhelming majority (228 for, 1 against, 3 abstentions) a vote
of no-confidence in the government of Prime Minister Yanukovytch.
"Two fundamental principles are essential for a solution:
"First: Democracy must be protected. The people of Ukraine must be
in a position to freely decide the future of their country. This is not about
taking sides with a particular candidate, nor is it about 'interfering' in a concrete
electoral process. It is about protecting accepted democratic principles.
"Second: We need stability, in the Ukraine itself and regarding her
territorial integrity. The Ukraine must remain intact as a functioning state.
Splitting the country would lead to a serious crisis.
"To this end, the EU will continue to help the Ukrainians to find a peaceful
political solution to the crisis themselves. Let me go into two questions which
have been posed in recent days.
"Have we sufficiently supported the Ukraine in its transition to democracy
and a market economy? In my opinion, we have done what we can.
1. Firstly, the EU is not only the largest donor to the Ukraine. Since 1991 we
have allocated more than €1 billion through the TACIS
framework and other programmes, of which the majority has been used and is being
used to strengthen democratisation, to aid institutional reform and to further
human rights initiatives.
2. Furthermore, we have always offered Ukraine
a clear perspective. Since 1991 and particularly since the entry into force of
the Partnership
and Co-operation Agreement in 1998, we have intensified our cooperation in
a large number of areas, paying particular attention to supporting economic and
social reforms. The dialogue between the European Parliament and the Ukrainian
Parliament also belongs to this area of co-operation.
3. In future, we want to deepen this partnership through the framework of the
European Neighbourhood Policy: we want to create a 'Ring of Friends' around the
European Union. The Action Plans which have been drafted under this initiative
offer each partner an ambitious and above all, tailored package. They include,
for example, joint actions in the fields of Justice, Energy and Environmental
questions, deepened trade relations and eventually the partial integration of
our partners into the EU Internal Market, a gradual participation in the so-called
'four freedoms of the EU.'
"The question of Ukrainian entry into the EU is not on the agenda.
But it is clear that we are not closing any doors. Of course the quality of our
partnership is also dependent on the quality of democracy in the Ukraine. Precisely
because the EU has a strong interest in relations with the Ukraine, we expect
Ukraine to progress towards European values.
"The Commission will persist with existing measures for democratisation and
support of civil society, from which the Ukrainian people reap the greatest benefits.
I believe that this is the right signal to send, to support the population in
their courageous fight for strengthening fundamental democratic values.
"As soon as the decision is taken to hold a re-run of the elections which
satisfies the democratic criteria, we will provide European support for this ballot.
Of course the responsibility for organising and holding the ballot lies with the
Ukraine. But at the same time, it is clear that the recommendations of the OSCE
must be taken on board in order to prevent further irregularities occurring. In
particular, this means that both the laws underpinning the election, as well as
the practical execution of the ballot must be massively improved. In addition,
we it must be ensured that the media report fairly, to which end we are already
seeing some improvements in the reporting of the broadcast media.
"The Commission is currently examining to what extent this ballot can be
supported through our rapid reaction mechanism and other means, just as we supported
the Georgian election authorities in January 2004."
Biographical Note:
Benita Ferrero-Waldner is responsible for External Relations and the Neighborhood
Policy in the new EU Commission under the Presidency of José
Manuel Barroso which took office on November 22 for a term of five years.
An Austrian citizen, she has most recently served as Federal Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Austria from 2000-2004, as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1995-2000)
and as UN Chief of Protocol 1993-1995. She joined the Austrian Federal Ministry
for Foreign Affairs in 1984 and held several diplomatic postings including in
Paris, Dakar and Madrid. She is a law graduate of the University of Salzburg and
had a career in business before entering the Austrian foreign service.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/profile/index_en.h
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Further Contact Information
Sue Tucker
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
susan.tucker@cec.eu.int
