Word awaited from Tymoshenko on Ukraine presidential election

Against a background of apparent hints that she should accept her defeat in Ukraine’s presidential elections, word was awaited from Yulia Tymoshenko on February 9 2010 as to whether she would concede – or contest the result in court.

Results of the second round of voting on February 7 gave a narrow margin of victory to Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow leader who has called on Tymoshenko to concede and to resign as Ukraine’s prime minister.

In a statement on the elections, of which the first round was held on January 17, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that she welcomed the completion of voting and the "positive assessment" given to the process by the OSCE/ODIHR-led International Election Observation Mission.

"The generally calm atmosphere in which the elections were conducted, the open campaign in the media and the fact that the electorate were provided with a genuine choice represent important achievements in Ukraine’s democratic development," Ashton said.

"I should in particular like to congratulate the people of Ukraine for the high turn out in both rounds of the elections and the strong commitment demonstrated to the democratic process," she said.

Ashton said that the EU "remains committed to deepening the relationship with Ukraine and supporting it in implementing its reform agenda. It looks forward to working with the new president to this end".

Tymoshenko was expected to hold a news conference some time on February 9, after twice postponing addressing the media the previous day, the BBC said.

Joao Soares of the OSCE election observers team told journalists on February 8: "It is now time for the country’s political leaders to listen to the people’s verdict".

Tymoshenko earlier indicated that she would not accept the result, with her camp alleging election irregularities. Before the second round, Tymoshenko said that she might unleash a second Orange Revolution, a reference to the events of six years ago that saw popular protests bring about a change of power in Kyiv.

In turn, Yanukovych’s camp has said that they would "defend his victory".

With the EU and the OSCE signalling acceptance of the election process, however, Tymoshenko may lack allies in contesting the result. By the morning of February 9, official reaction from Washington and Moscow was awaited.

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