PM Harper Addresses  Canadian Election Observers to Ukraine

Gatineau, Quebec -  Prime Minister Stephen Harper [October 19, 2012] attended the launch of the Mission Canada-Ukraine Elections 2012 short-term observers’ training session at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, where he addressed Canadian election observers preparing to monitor Ukraine’s parliamentary elections on October 28. The Prime Minister also announced that Senator Raynell Andreychuk will head Canada’s electoral observation mission. Having led a previous electoral observation mission to Ukraine in 2010, she has significant experience in this area and is also an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community.

“The bonds of friendship between Canada and Ukraine are strong and deep, and we are proud to support Ukrainians in their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous society,” said the Prime Minister. “On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to commend participants in this electoral observer mission and thank Senator Andreychuk for accepting this important role.”

On October 28, 2012, Ukraine will be holding parliamentary elections. Canada and the international community have identified these elections as a key benchmark for Ukraine’s democratic development, given growing concerns about Ukraine’s commitment to international standards of human rights, democracy and rule of law.  This includes ongoing concerns with the imprisonment of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and other members of the Opposition.

Canada is sending a total of 500 election observers to Ukraine: 420 of the observers will form part of Canada’s independent international observation mission, Mission Canada-Ukraine Elections 2012, and will be implemented by CANADEM.  The remaining 80 observers will participate as part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observation missions.

Canada has a long history of providing observers to elections around the globe.  Since 2004, Canada has sent observers to four previous Ukrainian elections. This fifth observer mission to Ukraine will be one of the largest deployments of observers that Canada has ever sent to monitor elections overseas.

The following excerpts are from the Prime Minister’s speech to Canada’s election observers departing for Ukraine.

… I therefore find it deeply ironic and severely disturbing that the [Lonsky Street Prison] Museum’s director is now himself harassed by the present day Ukrainian secret police. The charge is revealing state secrets, the secrets, apparently, of what went on at Lonsky Street in Stalin’s day. This brave young man’s name is Ruslan Zabily. Ruslan is with us today… He spoke of how he was pulled off the street and held incommunicado for 14 hours. Interrogated, asked about the liberation movement, his contacts abroad, how two years after they were removed, the museum’s computer’s files and information had not been returned. Friends, in such rights abuses as these, we see the darker side of Ukraine’s history, a darker side that threatens its future…

A year ago I wrote to President Yanukovich to tell him that I am deeply concerned about the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Her prosecution has had every appearance of political motivation. Legal experts agree that it did not reflect accepted norms of due process or fairness. To this day, Tymoshenko remains in prison. So, unfortunately, do many others who have fallen afoul of the Ukrainian government. As our own all-party Parliamentary committee recently concluded, and I quote...

“There is serious cause for concern about Ukraine’s democratic development and respect for the rule of law,” unquote.

We continue to call on President Yanukovich to respect judicial independence, to cease the harassment of opposition voices, and to conduct an election that is indeed free and fair.

So let me send you on your way with this encouragement: Canada has long been a beacon of hope for those who treasure freedom and value human dignity, not just in Europe, in Ukraine, but all around the world… Never forget that the vigilant watcher can hold rulers to account, that the one who seeks and speaks up is truly the guardian of liberty. This election is pivotal for Ukraine.

PHOTO

Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivers remarks at the Mission Canada-Ukraine Elections 2012 short-term observers’ training session at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec