Dear Prime Minister Harper:
In January 2010, the first presidential election since the Orange Revolution will take place in Ukraine. I am writing this open letter to urge you to commit Canada to sending a delegation of election observers comparable to the 2004 election. We must ensure that Ukraine continues on its journey towards a stable democracy.
With more than 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, Canada has a close and very personal relationship with Ukraine and a history of support for this emerging democracy. Regional political tensions and the current economic crisis have strained democratic institutions and further underscore the need for the international community to assist Ukraine with their electoral process. A stable and democratic Ukraine is absolutely fundamental to the political and economic stability of the region.
It is my understanding that the Government of Canada has limited its delegation of election observers to 60 for the 2010 vote. Canadians remember with pride the role that the almost 500-strong delegation of Canadian election observers, led by former Prime Minister John Turner, played in the 2004 Ukrainian elections.
This contribution was matched with a similarly sized delegation from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. These individuals had a profound impact on achieving successful democratic and transparent elections in one of the only former Soviet republics making significant progress in establishing itself as a true democracy.
The need for election observers and a vote free from improper interference has not diminished. Mr. Davydovych, the former Deputy Chair of Ukraine’s Electoral Commission and the leading expert on Ukrainian democratic electoral development, recently came to Canada to ask the government to match its commitment of 2004.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation have also requested delegations closer in number to that sent in 2004 and implored Canada not to abandon its previous commitment to democracy taking root in this part of the world.
This is an issue that transcends party lines. It is about Canada’s reputation on the world stage and our commitment to fostering democracy around the globe.
I strongly urge you to reconsider your position on next year’s delegation.
Sincerely,
Michael Ignatieff
–
