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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Action Ukraine Report
Cc: Kyiv Post Readers
Subject: Letter to the Editor - Ukraine's constitutional crisis

The current political standoff in Ukraine is damaging to Ukraine's international and internal standing.  The polls always indicated that the Presidential race was going to be close. This is the risk and problem that could always  occur with a direct Presidential election model.

We only need to reflect on the 2000 United States Presidential election where George W Bush hijacked the political process and denied Americans the right for a judicial review and rerun of the 2000 election.

To give in to the demands of the Opposition Leader, Viktor Yushenko under the existing circumstances would not resolve the problem and a second ballot is not the way forward.

Does Ukraine keep going to the ballot box until the United States executive is happy and the Our Ukrainian block manages to secure a majority?  If any thing this election has demonstrated the short comings and divisions that exist with a direct Presidential election.

A better alternative solution is to recall the Ukrainian Parliament in order to reconsider and support the recent proposed amendments to Ukraine's constitution.

Support for the proposed amendments to Ukrainian's constitution should be conditional  on the requirement that the Parliament is dissolved and a fresh election under the provisions of the new constitution held as soon as practicable.

The proposed Constitutional amendments are worthy of support and would strengthen Ukraine's Parliamentary democracy by reducing the powers of the President.the President would subsequently be would be appointed with the support and absolute majority vote of the elected Parliament.

In the end it is the Parliament "The Duma" that should decide how and under what conditions Ukraine is to be government and not the desire for power to be given to one individual or foreign state.

The International Community should embrace the strengthening of a Parliamentary democracy and the holding of a fresh Parliamentary elections to reflect the true mandate of the people.

The proposed constitutional amendments are worthy of further consideration and support and fresh election  under the revised constitution is the best way forward avoiding ongoing conflict and division.

If Viktor Yushenko and the "Our Ukraine" block is sincere about developing a long tern democratic government for Ukraine then they should consider and support this proposal.

XXX, Australia

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