CIDA to Send More Election Observers to Ukraine

OTTAWA – The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced on January 15 that Canada will be sending up to 270 election observers to monitor the upcoming [second round] presidential election in Ukraine.

“Canada has a long and proud history of providing election observers to countries to ensure free and fair elections,” noted Minister Oda. “This is a very important vote in Ukraine and in recognition of our special relationship; we are pleased to support this democratic process.”

The Canadian observers for the first round of the election, together with observers from other countries, worked under the auspices of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) following an official invitation from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Government of Canada’s contribution to the first round of voting on January 17 included six long-term and 60 short-term observers as well as four Canadian Embassy staff in Kyiv. In the second-round vote, Canada will send up to 200 additional observers. The second mission will be organized by CANADEM with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

It was expected that Canadian Members of Parliament travelled to Ukraine to monitor the first round of elections under the auspices of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

“We are delighted to see that Prime Minister Harper has decided to send a major Canadian Observer Mission to Ukraine for the Presidential Elections,” said Bob Onyschuk, Chair of the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) which will be working in cooperation with the Government of Canada to support the democratic process. “Ukraine is still a fragile democracy, and the 2010 Presidential Election will be as important to the future of Ukraine’s democratic development, as was the 2004 Presidential Election (the Orange Revolution).”

“Ensuring free and fair elections is critical to Ukraine’s developing democracy and we are proud that Canadian election observers will continue to stand by the people of Ukraine,” said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC).

The Government of Canada has collaborated with the UCC and CUF in implementing this initiative.

Observers will monitor the electoral process to ensure compliance with OSCE commitments, international standards for democratic elections and national legislation.

Ukraine is one of CIDA’s countries of focus for development assistance.