Australian foreign affairs minister expresses concern (11/28/04)

Australian foreign affairs minister expresses concern

Below is the text of a statement on Ukraine's presidential election issued by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer on November 24.

Australia has followed with deep concern the second round of Ukraine's presidential elections, held on November 21, 2004. International observers, including the International Election Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have reported that the election has clearly fallen short of international standards.

In light of the irregularities detailed in the report by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on the election, Australia has serious reservations about whether the official results will fully reflect the will of the Ukrainian electorate.

I urge Ukrainian authorities to fully investigate the irregularities reported in the electoral process and to review the results together with international observers, including the OSCE.

| Home Page |