The Election in Ukraine: Ambassador called to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press Release 273/2004
23 November 2004
Ambassador Oleksandr Maidannyk, the Ukrainian ambassador in Helsinki, was called today to the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where on behalf of the Government of Finland Jaakko Laajava, Under-Secretary of State, presented to him the EU Common Position on the recent presidential elections held in Ukraine. The European Union foreign ministers discussed the issue yesterday on the basis of the preliminary report submitted by the internal election observers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the OSCE. Significant shortcomings in implementation of the Ukrainian election were noted.
The European Union expressed its concern over the current situation to the Government of Ukraine, and called on the Government, together with the OSCE, to investigate the irregularities in implementation of the election and in counting of the ballots without delay.
The EU Common Position is presented to the Ukrainian ambassadors in all EU capital cities.
Additional information: Director General Kirsti Eskelinen, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 55038.