Foreign
Secretary William Hague’s Pre-election Message to Ukraine
23 May 2014
This Sunday, you face one of the
most important elections in your country’s history.
It will be a vital step on the
path to a more prosperous and stable future for Ukraine, and I hope that all
Ukrainians who can vote will exercise this fundamental right.
I also sincerely hope that armed
separatists and their supporters will refrain from disruptive actions and
inflammatory statements, and respect the right of the Ukrainian people to make
their voices heard.
It is clear that in the vast
majority of regions, preparations for elections are going well. The evidence
shows the Ukrainian people are ready to vote in huge numbers, and the Ukrainian
Government is doing its utmost to ensure the election is free and fair.
You also have the firm backing of
the international community. The OSCE is mounting one of its largest election
observation missions in recent years.
Trained monitors from Bulgaria,
Hungary, Germany, Greece, France, Latvia, the United States and some 36 other
countries will be joined by 100 British observers.
There will also be British
Members of Parliament who will represent in your country our long tradition of
democracy and be there to stand up for your right to choose who governs in
Ukraine.
So, this weekend’s election will be an important opportunity for people from across Ukraine to choose their President and shape their future in an independent, sovereign and peaceful state. You have our strong support. |
