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OSCE/ODIHR Director concludes assessment visit ahead of Ukrainian parliamentary elections
KYIV 5 March 2002
KYIV, 5 March 2002 - The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Gerard Stoudmann, today concluded a two-day assessment visit to Kiev ahead of the Ukrainian parliamentary elections scheduled for 31 March. The OSCE/ODIHR last week established a long-term observation mission in Ukraine to monitor the election process throughout the country.
"The upcoming elections will be an important indicator of the progress Ukraine has made in consolidating the democratic process", said Ambassador Stoudmann. "They will provide an opportunity to assess where Ukraine stands within the family of European democracies."
Summing up his visit, the OSCE/ODIHR Director acknowledged that the electoral framework indicates considerable progress in a number of areas, including as regards the openness and transparency demonstrated by the authorities towards the international observers. But he also urged the authorities to use the remaining weeks before election day to remedy a number of serious shortcomings and investigate allegations of abuse of administrative resources for campaign purposes and interference of government authorities in the election process. In the coming weeks, the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission will independently verify these allegations.
The OSCE/ODIHR delegation called for the urgent adoption of amendments to the administrative and civil procedure codes, without which, key provisions of the new and significantly improved election law cannot be enforced.
The OSCE/ODIHR welcomed the improvement in the media situation, in particular as regards the plurality of views broadcast in the electronic media and the level of information provided to voters. For the first time during a parliamentary election campaign, TV debates are being organized on several TV channels. However, the OSCE/ODIHR urged the authorities to ensure equal access to the media for all election contestants and more balanced coverage of the campaign. According to preliminary observations, the State-owned TV channel, UT-1, devoted almost 40 per cent of the prime-time news to the pro-presidential bloc and 25 per cent to the President.
"We call on the authorities to create a level playing field for the remaining weeks and to take all necessary steps to ensure impartial treatment of all parties and candidates in order to increase trust and confidence by the electorate in the election process", concluded Ambassador Stoudmann.
"The upcoming elections will be an important indicator of the progress Ukraine has made in consolidating the democratic process", said Ambassador Stoudmann. "They will provide an opportunity to assess where Ukraine stands within the family of European democracies."
Summing up his visit, the OSCE/ODIHR Director acknowledged that the electoral framework indicates considerable progress in a number of areas, including as regards the openness and transparency demonstrated by the authorities towards the international observers. But he also urged the authorities to use the remaining weeks before election day to remedy a number of serious shortcomings and investigate allegations of abuse of administrative resources for campaign purposes and interference of government authorities in the election process. In the coming weeks, the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission will independently verify these allegations.
The OSCE/ODIHR delegation called for the urgent adoption of amendments to the administrative and civil procedure codes, without which, key provisions of the new and significantly improved election law cannot be enforced.
The OSCE/ODIHR welcomed the improvement in the media situation, in particular as regards the plurality of views broadcast in the electronic media and the level of information provided to voters. For the first time during a parliamentary election campaign, TV debates are being organized on several TV channels. However, the OSCE/ODIHR urged the authorities to ensure equal access to the media for all election contestants and more balanced coverage of the campaign. According to preliminary observations, the State-owned TV channel, UT-1, devoted almost 40 per cent of the prime-time news to the pro-presidential bloc and 25 per cent to the President.
"We call on the authorities to create a level playing field for the remaining weeks and to take all necessary steps to ensure impartial treatment of all parties and candidates in order to increase trust and confidence by the electorate in the election process", concluded Ambassador Stoudmann.