On Wednesday, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi met with Co-Chairmen of the Canadian Observation Mission to early presidential elections in Ukraine: member of the Senate of the Canadian Parliament Mrs Anita Raynell Andreychuk and former Prime Minister of the Ontario Province Mr Mike Harris.
The Parties discussed the course of the presidential campaign in Ukraine.
“This is a unique situation in Ukraine. We are simultaneously building social relations and protecting a new state. There is no choice without elections,” noted R.Koshulynskyi.
According to him, “Ukraine has done everything to conduct timely elections within legal standards.” At the same time, he noted that there are certain complications in the course of carrying out elections on the territory of annexed Crimea and in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, where the Anti-terrorist operation is being conducted.
Thereat, R.Koshulynskyi specified that all conditions were established for the citizens of Crimea to vote on the mainland Ukraine. In regard to voting in problematic oblasts, the Ukrainian authority will do its best to neutralize terrorists and ensure safety of election precincts.
According to the politician, “the Ukrainian Parliament has adopted the law that gave the possibility to increase security of election precincts.” However, he stressed that electoral process is being complicated due to actions of pro-Russian political forces who massively withdraw their representatives from electoral commissions in order to disrupt elections.
In this context, R.Koshulynskyi informed that the Parliament has
legislatively eliminated the possibility of similar attempts to disrupt
elections. Commenting on the pre-election process in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts of Ukraine,
R.Koshulynskyi stressed that recent developments in these regions demonstrate
that citizens of these oblasts do not welcome terrorists’ actions and try to
defend the rule of law and integrity of the state. “In view of these
circumstances, we can say that elections in Ukraine will be held timely,
transparently and in a democratic manner,” stressed the Ukrainian politician.
He added that “Maidan has qualitatively changed the Ukrainian society. Maidan
has granted high level of patriotism, solidarity and political culture.”
According to R. Koshulynskyi, the whole political range of voters’ preferences is presented at these presidential elections; thus, he claimed “citizens will be making a free and open choice of those whom they trust”. At the same time, R. Koshulynskyi predicted two rounds of elections and a high voting turnout in the first round of elections. He believes that “Ukrainian citizens will be united by this voting for a modern powerful Ukraine, against corruption, abuse and terrorism”.
In their turn, Canadian observers claimed Canada acknowledges sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Discussing the course of presidential campaign, Senator Andreychuk agreed that “today it is urgent to ensure security for people and give them an opportunity to vote across the whole Ukraine”. She added that “the next President will have a difficult task – to ensure Ukraine’s way towards democracy. And that is why Canadian observer mission works”. The Senator assured that work of their observer mission in Ukraine will be professional, neutral and unbiased. In words of A. Andreychuk, “it is important that these elections ensure the rule of law”. “These elections open a door to democratic values. People of Ukraine shall elect their leader they will listen to”, stressed Senator A. Andreychuk, and added “a new day and a new era should come for Ukraine with these elections”.
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