Whatever the outcome of Sunday's general and local elections in the country (26 March), we very much hope that the Ukraine will continue on the path of strengthening local democracy and local self-government. This was the main message delivered by a delegation of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in Kiev on 14 and 15 March 2006.

 

The CEMR delegation was led by its secretary general Jeremy Smith. CEMR's delegates met the Ukrainian minister of Construction, architecture and municipal economy, Pavlo Kachur; the Mayor of Kiev Oleksander Omelchenko; the advisor to the president of the Ukraine on local affairs; Ihor Koliushko; and the executive vice president of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, Myroslav Pittsyk.

 

The Association of Ukrainian cities has been a member of CEMR for over three years, says Jeremy Smith. We felt that on the eve of these important elections, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions had to show its support to local governments and local democracy in the Ukraine.