Brussels, 11/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 10 April, the Spanish Presidency issued the following declaration on behalf of the European Union:
The European Union has taken cognisance of the international observer mission's preliminary report and notes the progress which Ukraine has made towards complying with international requirements as regards the parliamentary elections held on 31 March. It regards the presence of a large number of national and international observers as a positive development. The European Union would also draw attention to the major flaws noted by the observers. It gives notice that, like the international observer mission, it will continue to monitor the electoral process in Ukraine until the final results have been certified before coming to any final conclusion on the extent to which these elections have been in compliance with the international undertakings and standards for democratic elections. The European Union reiterates its readiness to cooperate with Ukraine to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two parties, on the basis of democratic principles and the rule of law. It is confident that these elections and the configuration of the new Verkhovna Rada (parliament) will help to strengthen institutions and the process of consolidating democracy and of reform in Ukraine. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.