You're reading: Clinton, Ashton urge Kyiv to hold fair elections

The Ukrainian authorities have to ensure that the right to political participation is upheld and to provide for fair media access for all candidates, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton have stated in their article for The New York Times.

“These are not the European Union’s elections or America’s elections. They are Ukraine’s. This is a moment when Ukraine’s leaders should deliver for their citizens. They expect President Viktor Yanukovych and his government to address these concerns, especially to ensure that the right to political participation is upheld and to provide for fair media access for all candidates,” reads the article.

Ashton and Clinton also stressed that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine will become an important trend for the strengthening of democratic institutions.

“At the moment, there are some worrying trends, as confirmed by the latest interim report by the election observation mission of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,” they said in the article.

The politicians added that “Ukraine now stands at an important juncture.”

“Many of its neighbors in Central and Eastern Europe have shown the world what can be accomplished in terms of democratization and economic prosperity. Ukraine has the capacity to do the same,” reads the article.

Ashton and Clinton also expressed concern about reports of the use of administrative resources to favor ruling party candidates and the difficulties several media outlets face, as well as about the continuation of the practice of the Central Election Commission holding closed pre-session meetings and the lack of representation of some political parties on district and precinct election commissions.

“We regret that the convictions of opposition leaders during trials that did not meet international standards are preventing them from standing in parliamentary elections. The Ukrainian government needs to address these selective prosecutions, including the case of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and other former senior officials,” Clinton and Ashton said.

They expressed the hope that the election in Ukraine will lead to a vigorous and effective effort by the countryэs leaders to advance important core reforms, including the investment climate and the energy sector.

“The European Union and Ukraine have completed negotiations on an ambitious Association Agreement that will provide for the country’s political association and economic integration with the European Union, including by establishing a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area… But the European Union will only be able to move forward with such an ambitious agenda if the democratic rights of the Ukrainian people, including freedoms of expression, political participation, association and media, are respected, the rule of law is put on strong footing, and progress is made on the overall reform agenda,” the article reads.

The two politicians summed up that they want to pursue deeper, mutually beneficial partnerships with Ukraine and will continue working toward a day where Ukraine will fully realize its own potential and take its place among the modern democracies of Europe.