Press ReleaseSource: International Republican Institute
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041227/dcm011_1.html?printer=1
Preliminary Statement of the International Republican Institute (IRI) on the December 26, 2004 Ukrainian Presidential Election Monday December 27, 10:08 am ET
KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- IRI's election observation mission has determined that the repeat runoff election of December 26 demonstrated significant progress in Ukraine's democratic development. Improvements in election administration, as well as legislative efforts to prevent fraud, contributed to demonstrative increases in transparency and fairness in the voting process, and the election campaign overall. These improvements resulted in a more orderly process, and an atmosphere which allowed voters and officials to generally act without fear or intimidation. In addition, they helped establish the legitimacy of the process for the election of the President. I. BACKGROUND IRI fielded a forty-person delegation of observers for the repeat runoff election for Ukraine's presidency. Like the IRI delegations deployed during the first and second rounds, the current one consisted of representatives of a number of political parties in the United States and Europe, and was comprised of election experts who have observed multiple elections in numerous countries around the world. The delegation was co-chaired by United States Federal Judge Bohdan Futey and Michael Trend, Member of the United Kingdom Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
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III. SUMMARY
IRI acknowledges the significance of the role of the courts in ensuring a more fair election process. The Supreme Court ruling calling for a new election, signaled judicial concern for election fraud, and underlined the Court's Constitutional role as an independent, co-equal branch of government. Similarly, IRI acknowledges the positive role that parliament played during the electoral process. In adopting critical amendments to the election law, the legislative branch acted promptly and effectively on the public's demand for new regulations designed to provide a more transparent and democratic electoral process. Finally, IRI recognizes the role that civil society played in demanding the right to have their votes properly counted. The Ukrainian people are to be applauded for rising to the occasion and exercising their constitutionally protected right of peaceful assembly throughout the political, judicial and legislative processes cited above. In summary, the courts, the parliament and the people have not only spoken, but have acted accordingly. They should be saluted for their democratic actions geared toward preserving the sacred right to vote, and protecting that right from infringement. <>