NEWS RELEASES

December 3, 2004 (6:45 p.m. EST) No. 145

CANADA PREPARED TO PROVIDE FURTHER SUPPORT TO UKRAINIAN ELECTIONS

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll welcomed the Ukrainian Supreme Court decision today that paves the way for Ukrainians to return to the polls on December 26 in order to repeat the second round of presidential elections. They also announced that Canada is prepared to send up to 75 election observers, under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), should the Ukrainian authorities request an International Election Observation Mission.

"We look forward to this opportunity for Ukrainians to hold a new election," said Minister Pettigrew. "We applaud the Ukrainian people, who have kept their protests peaceful. I wish to emphasize how important it is to determine the true will of the Ukrainian electorate. Only through a free and fair vote will the new president have legitimacy in the eyes of Ukrainians and the international community."

"The events of the past several weeks in Ukraine have vividly demonstrated the value of independent election observers," said Minister Carroll. "Dispatching this new delegation of observers would contribute to democratic development and the strengthening of governance institutions and civil society. With 75 observers, this would be the largest delegation that Canada has ever sent to a foreign election."

This initiative is part of the Canadian contribution to the OSCE election observer mission. Funding of up to $520,000 will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency. Canada will also consider offering other forms of assistance to support the Ukrainian presidential election.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada

(613) 995-1874

http://www.international.gc.ca

Andrew Graham

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of International Cooperation

(819) 953-6238

Media Relations Office

Canadian International Development Agency

(819) 953-6534

info@acdi-cida.gc.ca