Brussels, 28/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 September, the foreign affairs ministers of the Benelux, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia called on Ukraine for its parliamentary elections on 28 October to be democratic. “If the elections take place democratically, the leaders of Ukraine will again enjoy the political confidence of their citizens, Ukrainian society and the whole of Europe”, they say in a joint statement, as quoted by the Belga agency (our translation).
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and her American counterpart, Hillary Clinton, said on 23 September that the relationships of the EU and USA with Ukraine will not be able to progress unless Ukraine's elections are free and fair, and the problem of selective prosecutions is regulated. They said that Europe and the USA are working in close collaboration in terms of pressure and support for Ukraine's free parliamentary elections. (CG/transl.fl)