Military

DATE=10/14/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=(CQ) U.S.-UKRAINE ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-319675

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// RE-ISSUING TO CHANGE WHICH TO WHAT IN THIRD GRAF OF TEXT; AUDIO IS CORRECT ///

HEADLINE: US Deeply Disappointed Over Ukrainian Presidential Election Campaign

INTRO: U.S. officials Thursday expressed deep disappointment over the conduct of Ukraine's presidential election campaign. The State Department warned that the United States would re-examine its relationship with Ukrainian authorities who engaged in election fraud. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: The Ukrainian election campaign, which leads to a first round of voting October 31st, has been a bitter contest, with supporters of both main candidates alleging assassination attempts, and with widespread charges of favoritism by the government of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma.

More than 20 candidates are in the presidential race but the two primary contenders are Prime Minister Viktor Yakunovich, a protégé of Mr. Kuchma, and former prime minister Viktor Yuschenko, leader of the anti-Kuchma opposition.

Mr. Yuschenko had led in the polls, but his campaign has been hampered since he fell ill early last month in what supporters said was an attempt to poison him.

Mr. Yakunovich's supporters have leveled their own charges of attempted assassination stemming from a late-September incident in which he was said to have been struck by opposition radicals, though circumstances remain unclear.

There are also repeated charges that the state-controlled media have favored Mr. Yakunovich.

In a statement volunteered to reporters here, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said U.S. officials are deeply disappointed that the Ukrainian campaign, to date, has fallen short of international standards.

He said the disruption of opposition rallies, the muzzling of independent media, the misuse of government resources and other serious violations all cast doubt on the Kiev government's commitment to its democratic obligations.

The spokesman called on Ukrainian authorities to immediately end what he said were ongoing violations of democratic norms, to allow voters to choose freely, to scrupulously adhere to internationally accepted standards for vote-counting on election day, and to give domestic and international observers full access to the polls.

Mr. Boucher said the United States is prepared to work closely with any candidate who wins in a free and fair election, and to move forward quickly on many issues of importance to Ukraine.

But he said if the election fails to meet democratic standards, it would be unrealistic for Ukraine to expect realization of those aspirations, and that the United States would also need to, as he put it, re-examine our relationship with those who engaged in election fraud and manipulation.

The Bush administration has been critical in recent months of among other things, Ukraine's denial of local outlets for U.S.-funded Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe broadcasts, but it has also welcomed Ukraine's commitment of 16 hundred troops to the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

The Iraq troops have been an issue in the campaign, with Mr. Yuschenko calling for their withdrawal and the Kuchma ally, Mr. Yanukovich, saying he would not withdraw them until democratic elections are held in Iraq.

Neither front-runner is expected to win an outright majority October 31st, and if not, a run-off will be held November 21st.

Spokesman Boucher said the United States urges Ukrainians to seize the opportunity presented by the election to strengthen that country's rightful place in the community of democratic nations. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/RH/MAR/KL