Congressional resolution focuses on Rada elections (02/24/02)

Congressional resolution focuses on Rada elections

WASHINGTON - Members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced identical resolutions "Urging the government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent and fair election process leading up to the March 31, 2002, parliamentary elections."

The House measure was introduced on January 29 by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Joseph M. Hoeffel (D-Pa.) and Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.); on the Senate side the resolution was introduced on February 7 by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas).

House Resolution 339 now has 27 co-sponsors; it was referred to the Committee on International Relations. Senate Resolution 205 was referred to the Commitee on Foreign Relations. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) has joined as an additional co-sponsor.

The resolution urges the government of Ukraine "to enforce impartially the new election law, including provisions calling for: (A) the transparency of election procedures; (B) access for international election observers; (C) multi-party representation on election commissions; (D) equal access to the media for all election participants; (E) an appeals process for electoral commissions and within the court system; and (F) administrative penalties for election violations;

As well the resolution urges Ukraine "to meet its commitments on democratic elections" and "to address issues identified by the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of OSCE in its final report on the 1999 presidential election, such as state interference in the campaign and pressure on the media."

It also calls on Ukraine "to allow election monitors from the ODIHR, other participating states of OSCE, and private institutions and organizations, both foreign and domestic, full access to all aspects of the parliamentary election process."

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