Harper says Ukraine election results will help rebuild democracy

 Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised Ukrainians for casting their ballots in Sunday's presidential vote as exit polls suggest that candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko has won the election in the first round.

In a tweet on Sunday, Harper congratulated Ukrainians for "taking this important step towards rebuilding democracy."

"(Canada) will continue to stand by you," he said.


 Full results from the election are expected on Monday, but exit polls conducted by three Ukrainian agencies have suggested Poroshenko, 48, has captured 55.9 per cent of the vote in a crowded field of 21 candidates. If that number holds, a runoff election next month with the second-place finisher, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, would be avoided.

Harper's tweet on Sunday followed a statement from Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, who also applauded Ukrainians for participating in the election during a "critical phase" of their country’s history.

"The long lines of people who came out vote in these elections are an undeniable affirmation of how deeply Ukrainians value freedom and democracy, and demonstrate a clear commitment to building a better future, free from Russian-sponsored subversion and violence," he said on Sunday.

Baird -- who has previously said that Canada "cannot sit by while Russia illegally occupies Ukraine" -- also offered his continued support to the country.

"Canada will continue to work with the Ukraine government to help restore the country’s economic and political stability."

Over the past few months, many Ukrainian-Canadians have been closely watching the conflict as ongoing Russian aggression gripped their home country. Many also took part in protests in Canada in an attempt to convince some of the world's biggest powers to force Russia to release its hold on their homeland.......Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca
25/5/14