Dick Lugar: “I rise to recognize the important progress made by the people of Ukraine in the establishment of democratic institutions…”

“I rise to recognize the important progress made by the people of Ukraine in the establishment of democratic institutions following the presidential runoff election on February 7, 2010. Voters recently elected Viktor Yanukovych as President of Ukraine in a process that international monitors declared to have generally comported with international election standards. This represents important progress towards the consolidation of democratic institutions that the U.S. has worked diligently to foster. Serving as President George W. Bush's envoy to the 2004 run-off election that resulted in what is now widely known as the ``Orange revolution,'' I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the great aspirations of the Ukrainian people for a government that responds to their needs. Given Ukraine's location on the periphery of NATO and the Russian Federation, as well as its role as the primary energy conduit to Europe, Ukraine's political development and external orientation greatly impact European security and U.S. policies in the region.”