Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski congratulated Ukraine opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko on his presidential election victory this monday, hailing it as a step toward the European Union, his office here said.
Kwasniewski, who helped mediate the political crisis that gripped Ukraine after last month's election was ruined by massive fraud, was the first foreign leader publicly to congratulate Yushchenko on winning the rerun ballot.
He telephoned the pro-Western opposition leader to say he was "satisfied to see Ukraine emerge successfully from its political crisis."
The Polish leader cited the high turnout rate in Sunday's poll and the fact it had passed off peacefully, Kwasniewski's office added.
He said that Yushchenko's victory was "a good choice for Ukraine and for its relations with Poland and the European Union."
Yushchenko held an eight-point lead Monday over his pro-Russia rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, according to results from more than 98 percent of polling precincts, according to the central election commission.
The opposition leader had received 52.29 percent of the vote compared with Yanukovich's 43.92 percent on a turnout of 77.22 percent.
Their historic rematch came after November's runoff, whose official results handed victory to Yanukovich, was thrown out by the supreme court because of widespread fraud amid massive street protests by the opposition.
Domestic observers gave Sunday's poll a clean bill of health, saying that although violations did occur, they were not widespread and systematic.
Meanwhile Yushchenko has accepted an invitation from Kwasniewski to travel to Poland on January 27 for commemorations of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, the Polish presidency said.
The leaders of Russia, Germany and Israel are also expected at ceremonies.
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