The Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) has voiced its complete support of “the idea of fair elections.” “The party welcomes any public initiative directed at the realization of this idea,” reads the statement distributed July 9 and signed by party leader, first deputy speaker of Verkhovna Rada Viktor MEDVEDCHUK. The statement emphasizes that representatives of a number of Ukraine’s NGOs have announced their intentions to circulate a memorandum of commitment to fair play during the 2002 election campaign to candidates. “We stress the necessity of public control both over the procedure of casting votes and strict abidance by the laws and moral criteria during the election campaign. In the first place this concerns the means of propaganda and counter-propaganda in the mass media,” the statement reads. The SDPU(o) suggests that “a public monitoring committee be set up, which would monitor the election campaign on the television, radio, and in the press, analyzing it from the viewpoint of the legislation in force and pointing out unworthy means of political struggle,” reports Interfax- Ukraine. The party expresses its “readiness to assist in this struggle, using the organizational capacities of its developed party structures... 70,000 party workers in all this country’s election districts will closely monitor both local and Verkhovna Rada elections. Because only through fair elections the people will come by fair authorities,” the statement reads. SDPU(o) is calling on all parties intending to participate in the elections “to support the idea of fair elections and join this initiative.” Ukrainian deputies approve of the idea of signing such a document, remarking, however, that it should not become a mere declaration. Roman BEZSMERTNY, permanent presidential representative in Verkhovna Rada stated that he views the signing of such a memorandum “very positively.” In turn, Democratic Union Party leader Oleksandr VOLKOV referred to the memorandum as “a brilliant idea.” When asked by Interfax- Ukraine whether the Democratic Union is ready to sign this document, Volkov responded, “Absolutely.”
