Press Release (2004)175 27 Dec. 2004

Statement following the elections in Ukraine by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer I am pleased by the news that the Ukrainian people were able to express their choice for a new President in elections on 26 December, which have been positively assessed by the International Observation Mission. Ukraine is an important strategic partner for the Alliance, and we look forward to working with the new Ukrainian leadership to deepen our cooperation even further. Clearly this development is relevant to NATO’s political relationship with Ukraine. Our overriding goal – to assist Ukraine to realise its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and to promote stability in the region – remains unchanged. We will continue to follow the events in Ukraine with utmost attention.

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