OSCE PA President Severin concludes visit to Ukraine

KIEV, 13 March 2002 - The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Adrian Severin, paid an official visit to Ukraine from 11 to 13 March. During the course of the visit, Mr. Severin met with the President of Ukraine, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament as well as other members of parliament from a wide spectrum of political parties, the Foreign Minister, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, the Ombudperson, the Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission and Mission Staff.

The goals of the visit were threefold. In light of the fact that the visit came less than three weeks prior to the 31 March parliamentary elections, Mr. Severin's first goal was to assess the political situation in the country in the run-up to these elections. Recognizing the importance of these elections in the process of consolidating democratic processes in Ukraine, Mr. Severin was encouraged by the fact that there appeared to be a solid legal framework within which the elections were to be held. He expressed the hope that the coming into force of amendments to the Administrative Code would provide a more solid basis for the implementation of the electoral legislation. He also noted with optimism the fact that the mandates were being contested by a wide range of candidates from the full spectrum of political forces. This reflects a sign of the growing political pluralism in the country and represents a real choice for voters in the upcoming elections.

While welcoming the prognosis that the elections could result in a parliamentary majority which would keep the country on the path of reform, Mr. Severin also noted the importance of a strong, yet constructive opposition, expressing his opinion that "there can be no strong government without a strong opposition." On the other hand, Mr. Severin expressed concern over the mistrust in the electoral process among certain candidates as well as some general skepticism as to whether the elections will be truly free and fair. The skepticism was in part the result of what appears to be a misbalance of coverage in the media and use of administrative resources in favour of pro-government candidates. Mr. Severin encouraged officials to take measures to address these concerns so as to defuse some of the tension which has built up during the course of the pre-election campaign and to ultimately ensure public trust in the outcome of the election. He also noted with concern the tendencies of polarization of political forces and warned of the dangers that can result from political confrontation as opposed to political dialogue. In this respect, he expressed the opinion that the various issues which have given rise to suspicion and mistrust among political actors should be dealt with in a transparent, open and constructive way.

Secondly, Mr. Severin discussed Ukraine's relationship with the OSCE. Noting the active participation of Ukrainian parliamentarians in the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Severin also encouraged the Ukrainian authorities to play an equally active role in the governmental dimension of the OSCE in order to ensure that the Organization meets Ukraine's aspirations and remains relevant to the needs of its participating countries. Mr. Severin expressed the opinion that the OSCE's success in guaranteeing European security is directly related to the level of political leadership and impulse coming from the capitals. Mr. Severin also encouraged the Ukrainian authorities to continue their close co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. He noted that "an OSCE presence in a particular country is not a certificate of non-confidence, but rather a means to build compatible Institutions which are essential so that OSCE participating States can effectively meet their common goals and aspirations."

Finally, Mr. Severin discussed Ukraine's important role in the region, highlighting the fact that a stable, democratic, and independent Ukraine was essential for the security of Europe. He welcomed the efforts of Ukraine's political leadership to continue its efforts of integration into European and trans-Atlantic institutions, while at the same time recognizing the importance of maintaining close relations with the Russian Federation and other neighbours to the east. With several of his interlocutors, Mr. Severin also discussed regional developments, expressing concern over the domestic situation in two of Ukraine's neighbours, Belarus and Moldova. In this regard, he reiterated the fact that the stability of Ukraine and its neighbours is essential to the stability of the OSCE as a whole.

Overall, Mr. Severin welcomed the frank and open discussions he had with all his interlocutors and sought to highlight the fact that he "did not come as an inspector or a judge, but rather as an equal partner seeking ways to ensure the common goal of stability and security in Europe".