Date: 2004-10-04
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 415 regarding free and fair elections in Ukraine. I want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Chairmani HYDE) for introducing this important and timely resolution and thank the ranking Democrat of the full committee. the gentleman from California . for his strong support. On October 31. the people of Ukraine will go to the polls to participate in an election for their next president. The development of a strong democracy in Ukraine has been slow and difficult over the past 13 years by any measure.However. no issue will be more important to Ukraines future standing with the West than the strength of its democracy. Therefore. this election. in many ways represents a historic opportunity for the people of Ukraine to decide whether or not democracy can flourish in this important nation. Ukraine has an obvious need to maintain positive relations with its neighbor. Russia. But with its resources and economic potential. Ukraine can and should be an important element in the further stabilization of Europe. However. its longterm commitment to democracy is the only way Ukraine can become a full partner with the democracies of the EuroAtlantic community. Because of the importance of relations between Ukraine and the West. Ukraine has been reassured time and again that the door to the West remains open. This month will be a crucial test of whether the Ukrainian people and their government are willing to make the effort to walk through that door. Regrettably. recent statements and actions by some in the current political leadership have raised concerns in the international community and in this Congress about whether this election will be open and fair. Based on problems witnessed in the past elections in Ukraine. I believe it is important that Ukraines leaders understand that this election will be regarded as a litmus test of Ukraines commitment to democracy and to its future in Europe. It seems incomprehensible to me that with the rocky relationship the West has had at times with the outgoing leadership in Kiev. that either of the major candidates running for election would want his victory tainted by an unfair electoral process. biased media coverage. and even thuggery. 1 [] 1930 Why would the next President of Ukraine want to spend the next 5 years under a cloud of legitimacy? Many visitors to Ukraine. including several from this House over the past few months. have raised the issue of free and fair elections. All have been reassured by President Kuchma. Prime Minister Yanukovich. Foreign Minister Gryshcenko. and Speaker of the Parliament. Lytvyn. that every effort will be made to meet the governments commitment for a free and fair election. I am afraid. however. that in many instances. thus far. the rhetoric has not been matched by the actions. At the Subcommittee on Europe markup of this resolution in June. our former subcommittee chairman. Doug Bereuter. noted that they would hold those government officials to their word. We know that Ukraines leaders have heard our message. but we are concerned that some of them are not taking that message seriously. H. Con. Res. 415 notes the importance of the presidential election to the success of Ukraines transition to democracy. The resolution addresses reports of government harassment of those who support opposition candidates and of threats and violence against opposition leaders and their families. It speaks to allegations of harassment of independent media in Ukraine and about allegations of possible outright election fraud. The resolution stresses how important it will be for President Kuchma and other senior officials to take active steps to ensure that the kinds of foul play seen in past elections do not become the norm during the remainder of this presidential election. Finally. the managers amendment which has been included also includes language calling on the United States Government to ensure that all of Ukraines election laws are being followed by the presidential candidates and those working on their behalf. Mr. Speaker. we in the Congress remain committed to assisting Ukraine in building a stable. democratic and prosperous nation. What better way for President Kuchma to leave office than to ensure that the people of Ukraine have a free and fair choice as to who will lead them over the next 5 years? We hope the elections in just a few weeks time will prove that Ukraine too shares these same goals. I urge adoption of this resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.