Foreign Secretary congratulates Ukraine on historic elections
27 May 2014 12:46 PM
Foreign Secretary congratulates the Ukrainian
people for showing their determination to vote and decide their own
future.
Speaking about the recent elections, the Foreign
Secretary, William Hague, said:
I
congratulate the Ukrainian people for showing their determination to vote in
today’s historic presidential elections.
Today’s high turn-out shows the Ukrainian
people’s resolve to decide their own future without outside interference.
I regret that separatist armed gangs who purport to be “peaceful
activists” sought to deny the citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk their right
to vote. I pay tribute to the election commission staff who were subjected to
appalling levels of intimidation in those regions but strove to do their duty.
I also praise citizens in eastern Ukraine who overcame all obstacles to vote or
who tried to do so. Each vote cast was an individual act of
courage.
The
UK, like the vast majority of the international community, is firmly committed
to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. That is
why we will not recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of
Crimea.
Today, Ukrainians have sent a decisive signal of their
support for reform and a new future for their country. We look forward to
working with the new President on ambitious reforms that can meet the
aspirations of the people of Ukraine.
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