Original text in Arabic http://www.raya.com/news/pages/ea3e60af-ce25-4910-aa44-ceb311ce0c04#.U4GfnyTdWis.facebook

 

Firstly, I would like to inform the distinguished readers that the early presidential elections in Ukraine will take place on legislatively set date which is the  May 25, 2014.

There are 21 candidates for the post of the President of Ukraine who were registered to take part in the elections. Candidates represent all regions of Ukraine and wide political spectrum. Also, there are 114 polling stations which were established in foreign electoral district outside Ukraine.

This time the Embassy of Ukraine in Qatar is not going to open a polling station. We hope that it will be done during the next parliamentary elections which are expected to take place during this year after the presidential campaign. Currently we have registered about 150 Ukrainian nationals in Qatar who are willing to take part in the Presidential elections. Some of them are ready to travel on their own expense to vote in the nearest polling station which is located in the Embassy of Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.     

I have to tell you with all responsibility that Ukraine is extremely interested in holding elections in free, transparent and democratic manner, and in full compliance with international standards with the maximum presence of international observers.

High number of international observers is expected to be present at the elections. As of 16 May 2014 the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine registered 1375 international observers: 1319 representing international organizations, 56 – countries. Precisely, Observers from Canada, Lithuania, USA, France, Japan, Turkey, OSCE ODIHR, Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Ukrainian World Congress, and Congressional Ukrainian Caucus have already been registered. Respective observation missions will be also sent by the European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, NATO and GUAM etc.

Long-term OSCE ODIHR electoral observation mission on monitoring early presidential elections in Ukraine started its work on 19 March. It is expected that over 900 short-term observers will be present at the polling stations.

It is crucially important to note that the new President election is a key step to normalization and stabilization of the situation in the country. Any calls to disrupt or to postpone the election should be seen as attempts to prevent stabilization of the internal processes in Ukraine.    

Speaking about the presidential elections in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in the East of Ukraine I`d like to stress that the Presidential campaign 2014 is conducted in times of social and political tensions and in the light of hard security challenges which Ukraine faces for the first time in its modern history. Preparations for the elections are conducted in accordance with calendar plans set by the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine and are almost finalized.

All necessary actions to hold presidential elections at the territory of Ukraine are enforced except for the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Establishment of electoral commissions had almost been terminated. In view of the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, there are no district electoral commissions established there.  In accordance with current legislation of Ukraine the elections at the temporarily occupied territory are neither organized nor hold. At the same time, citizens of Ukraine who live in the occupied peninsula, enjoy an opportunity to vote at the Presidential elections in Kherson region which neighbors Crimea, or at any polling station in the territory of Ukraine.

In view of activity of armed terrorist groups, all necessary actions are undertaken and they are aimed to secure electoral process, members of the electoral commissions and electoral documentations, and to conduct elections at the whole territory of Ukraine.

Ukrainian side highly appreciates unanimous support of the international community, including the State of Qatar, on specific importance of free and democratic presidential elections in Ukraine on 25 May 2014 for de-escalation of current situation in our country.

Russian Federation is the only country whose official representatives had numerously not recognized the elections of 25 May 2014 or questioned its legitimate outcomes. By doing this, Russia seems to be interested in further escalation of the situation around Ukraine.  

Russian Federation undertakes deliberate actions to destabilize situation in our country and disrupt elections of the President of Ukraine. The decision of Russia to conduct military exercises next to Ukraine`s border right on the date of early presidential elections should be also treated with deep concern.

I seize this opportunity to call on all countries including the friendly Qatar to demonstrate its full support to the forthcoming free and democratic elections of the President of Ukraine on May 25-th.