DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
To the President of Ukraine, The Verkhovna Rada
and the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
Your Excellencies,
In our declaration of 27 October 2004, the Board of European Business
Association (EBA) expressed its hope that the Ukrainian Government, as
guarantor of the Constitution of Ukraine would ensure fair and democratic
presidential elections, in accordance to Ukrainian law and the principles of The
Council of Europe of which Ukraine is member. Today we respectfully repeat this
appeal.
We support the statement of the Presidency of European Union of 22 of
November 2004. As a business organisation committed to Ukraine, but also
committed to Ukrainian, European and international principles of democracy and
civil rights, principles of paramount importance for fostering a favourable
investment climate in the country, we are deeply concerned about the
irregularities during the presidential elections in Ukraine, as reported in the
conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR International Election Observation Mission
(IEOM).
As a business organisation we do not support any political party or candidate. We
only support the respect of democratic principles and civil rights in Ukraine. For
these reasons, we respectfully solicit your Excellencies to review together with
OSCE/ODIHR the electoral process and results, and to request the Ukrainian
authorities, including the law enforcement bodies, to show restraint and all sides
to express themselves only in a non-violent manner.
We have trust in you as guarantors of the Ukrainian Constitution and of the will of
the Ukrainian electorate, and also your commitment to democracy and civil rights.
The Board of EBA
