THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY ENDORSED THE RECENT ELECTION PROCESS IN THE UKRAINE, CALLING IT 'FREE AND FAIR.' EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTIONS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER BY VIKTOR YUSCHENKO, THE PRO-WESTERN LEADER, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THE ELECTIONS WERE LEGITIMATE. 'ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION,' WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SCOTT MCCLELLAN TOLD REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON TODAY. 'I THINK THAT STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO WHAT WE SAW IN BELARUS.' MCCLELLAN SAID THE RESULTS ARE FOR THE MOST PART PRELIMINARY, BUT 'WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT ONCE IT IS FORMED.' 'IF YOU LOOK BACK, THE ORANGE REVOLUTION WAS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD,'' MCCLELLAN SAID. 'AND ON SUNDAY THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A BALLOT IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. 'PEOPLE OF UKRAINE ARE CONTINUING TO SHAPE THEIR OWN FUTURE,' THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAID. 'THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO IMPORTANT IDEALS OF ECONOMIC IDEALS OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS AND OPEN TRADE. THAT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR A PROMISING FUTURE.'
