Rice Says Governing Party In Ukraine Victimized By Unmet Expectations

WASHINGTON, DC -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday the governing party in Ukraine did poorly in parliamentary elections because it was unable to meet public expectations engendered by the Orange Revolution.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rice said the Bush administration will seek friendly relations with whatever coalition government is formed in Ukraine.

She expressed hope that the new government will respect what the Ukrainian people want, including close ties to the West.

Rice noted that the combined vote of the two leading Orange Revolution parties exceeded that of the pro-Moscow party, which had the most support of any single grouping.

"The expectations for what they could deliver were out of line with what they were able to deliver," Rice said, alluding to President Viktor Yushchenko's party, which won only about 15 percent of the votes counted as of Tuesday.

Source: AP