OSCE Chairman urges Ukrainian leaders to ensure September elections are transparent

KYIV, 5 July 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, urged Ukrainian leaders today to ensure that a sense of political maturity and responsibility prevails in the run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 30 September.

"I call on all parties to ensure the elections are held in a transparent manner," Minister Moratinos said during a visit to Kyiv. "Many people across the OSCE region will be watching with interest to see how the elections are conducted. It is in everybody's interest that they match up to international commitments."

In meetings with President Viktor Yushchenko, Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said Ukraine could not afford further delay of constitutional and economic reforms.

"The OSCE has supported this country intensively and will continue to do so through the work of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine," he added.

Minister Moratinos also delivered a speech at the opening of the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, saying that the assembly played an important role in strengthening democracy and transparency across the 56-country OSCE area.

"The OSCE firmly supports transition processes in our region," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual meeting concludes on Monday.