The President of the European Council, Prime Minister Balkenende of the Netherlands, called presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko regarding today’s announcement of the provisional elections results by the Central Electoral Commission. He welcomed the provisional outcome of the elections.

The assessment of the International Election Observation Mission is testimony that the rerun of the second round of the presidential elections has brought Ukraine substantially closer to meeting international standards. Similarly, the EU is confident that outstanding complaints with regard to the electoral process will be adequately addressed.  It took note of the OSCE/ODIHR’s readiness to assist in this respect.  

Prime Minister Balkenende paid tribute to the peaceful manner in which Mr Yushchenko and all others involved had persevered, under very difficult circumstances, in defending Ukrainian democracy. It is crucial for the country’s future that the Ukrainian people stood their ground in defending their democratic rights.

The Presidency calls upon all Ukrainians to do their utmost to maintain the internal cohesion of Ukraine and is confident that Ukraine will work together constructively with its neighbours.

Prime Minister Balkenende emphasised the shared interest for the EU and Ukraine to work together closely on a wide range of issues and noted the importance to take this process forward in the near future.