Posted on 11/24/2004 5:48:21 AM PST by Valin
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Wednesday of ``consequences'' for the European Union's political and trade relations with neighboring Ukraine if the government there does not allow a full review of contested presidential election results.
``There will be consequences, if there is not a serious, objective review,'' Barroso told reporters. ``I hope there will be no consequences.''
Barroso said the 25-nation bloc was demanding a ``complete review of the electoral process'' after the second round of elections in Ukraine, which international election observers declared flawed.
``The report of the electoral observation mission indicates Ukraine did not meet international standards of democratic elections,'' Barroso said.
The new EU chief however did not go into specifics of what the consequences would be. At risk might be around $1.31 billion the bloc has given or committed to Ukraine since 1991, in development and economic aid and possible visa-bans on politicians and officials.
``We regret that the Ukrainian authorities have not taken the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to democracy. This could affect our relations in the future,'' said Barroso. ``We hope that in the meantime, a political solution can be found and we call on restraint from all sides to achieve that goal.''
Barroso said the EU would ``make our position clear'' with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Thursday's EU-Russia summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
``It is our duty to say we are not satisfied with the way the elections took place in Ukraine.''
The EU's threat, being used to put added pressure on Ukraine authorities to meet Western demands, came as the EU's top envoy said he would consider leading a high-level delegation to Ukraine to see if he could help resolve the tense political standoff following a charged presidential election.
EU foreign policy representative Javier Solana said, however, that he had ``doubts'' now was the time to go.
``There is not much you can do physically there, but we can reconsider that,'' he told the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, which called a special debate on Ukraine amid fears the country could fall into civil conflict over the disputed election results.
Official results after the second round gave Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanukovych a narrow lead over Western-leaning opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, with almost all votes counted. But they were widely dismissed by EU and other observers as flawed.
The EU assembly's committee chairman, German conservative Elmar Brok, pushed Solana on behalf of his committee ``to consider'' sending a high-level mission to exert ``necessary pressure'' on Ukrainian authorities to resolve the crisis peacefully.
Polish Liberal Democrat Grazyna Staniszewska said if Solana did not go, the parliament should send its own team and consider pressing EU governments to impose sanctions.
``We must send a new observer mission to prevent a bloodbath,'' she said.
EU: BAD BAD UKRAINE.
No chocolates for you, Ukraine.
I bet that has them scared.
Breaking News: Russian Troops Intervening in Ukraine Elections
Private Email from Election Observer in Ukraine | 11/23/2004 | Bob Schaffer
Posted on 11/23/2004 6:38:52 PM CST by ModelBreaker
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1287112/posts
From: Bob Schaffer
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:10 PM
Friends: some of you know I am in Ukraine as an election monitor. The presidential election was Sunday. There was rampant cheating and falsification reported throughout the country. I can't go into all details of election. I'm using a blackberry to communicate with lots of USA people, news agencies and Ukrainians. Please check news sources on the Ukrainian election background if you're not familiar. Also, I'll be regularly updating the Denver Post. They're setting their web site to post my updates.
Here's the latest:
Russian special forces dressed in Ukrainian Special forces uniforms are in Kyiv. Ukrainian militia have been instructed by the mayor to protect the people from the Russian troops. Ukrainian militia have established a hotline for Ukrainians to report any incidents with the Russians and pledged to protect Ukrainians. These Russians flew into Ukraine this morning. They're now surrounding the administration buildings they say "to protect Kuchma (the outgoing president and his PM Yanukovich). Following is a chain of email messages I've been sending by blackberry. Please pass along to others. Bob Schaffer
Click on link for more
I don't give the EU 25 years before they have a bloody break up.
And the downside of this is.....?
For what it's worth I pretty much agree.
I can confirm reports of Russian special troops in ukraine.
They are from Vityaz team. They are without IDs and dressed as Ukrainian military.
Current president Kuchma is afraid that Ukrainian forces will not protect him from people who hate his guts!
---
The choice is between:
1. Yushenko
- Ukrainian nationalist, patriot (conservative comparing to USSR-like liberals)
- Never in prison
- "Soft" guy
2. Yanukovich
- Has been convicted of crimes 3 times
- Including RAPE
- Been to prison many times
- All convictions were "cleared" a year before elections by acting goverment
- People think he is a head of Donetsk Mob, "Mafia"
- His mob operates in Russia (ties to russian goverment)
- Putin supports him to get Ukraine out of the West (NATO, US and EU) and in to newUSSR (Russia).
So the choice is Patriot vs Criminal
Goverment were doing tricks like putting people on a bus with absentee ballots and driving 100 people around town to vote multiple times..
Boxes full of ballots for proRUSSIAN Yanukovich.
This is how they got 49% even if 70% of people in ukraine are fed up with USSR style goverment and RUSSIA..
LOL ;)
"Patriot" who follows the orders of Soros and the EU/UN
and a "criminal" who follows what is good for himself and most likely, Russia.
Lose-lose situation for any good folks in Ukraine.
Reminds me of the Balkans, sort of.
ping o
Send the Poles in to occupy the Ukraine until this gets figured out.
I'm sure they won't mind ;-)
In THAT case, this is obviously a mission for (drumroll please) JIMMAH CARTER.
What is your agenda "expert"? You love commies, Putin, Yanukovych? Go and build their "paradise". People can get fresh and direct info from http://eng.maidanua.org/
JB6, Eluminate, Lion in winter = disinformation provocateurs opn FR
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