UCC WELCOMES INSPIRING EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE
Ottawa, 30 May 2014.. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress congratulates Ukraine's President elect Petro Poroshenko on his victory in Ukraine's Early Presidential elections in what international election observers have deemed to be a free and fair vote, the results of which express the free will of the Ukrainian people.
Poroshenko received a strong mandate from the people of every region of Ukraine. Despite the reprehensible, destabilizing role played the Russian Federation in trying to undermine the free expression of the will of Ukraine, voting took place in every region of the country except for Russian occupied Crimea.
"At this critical juncture in Ukraine's democratic development, Mr. Poroshenko will have an enormously difficult task ahead of him," stated UCC National President Paul Grod. "On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, I congratulate Mr. Poroshenko on his decisive victory. The Ukrainian Canadian community stands ready to assist our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in their desire to build a modern, democratic and free Ukraine. In assuming the highest office in Ukraine, Mr. Poroshenko has both the enormous honour and the tremendous responsibility to serve the people of Ukraine".
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress played a pivotal role in supporting both the Government of Canada's CANEOM Election Observer Mission as well as the Ukrainian World Congress Mission.
The UCC noted that Ukraine's governing authorities worked tirelessly to ensure that these elections were conducted openly, honestly and transparently. The UCC commends the Government of Ukraine for its commitment to furthering democracy and enhancing the rule of law in Ukraine.
Finally, the UCC expresses gratitude to the members of the Ukrainian Canadian community volunteered their time and expertise to help the ensure that the votes cast by Ukrainians in these elections were a genuine expression of the will of the Ukrainian people.
