To day's Berwickshire News on line carries this rather curious letter. Not the contents but the sender: I had no idea that the Kingdom of Scotland was located in Duns. I knew that the Kindom of France has an honorary consul in Galashiels-as a day job he restores old pianos. Mr Ritchie is the Regent-so where is the monarch and where do the Windsors come into all this. I think we should be told.
SIR, — Appeal for Scottish Observers at Ukraine’s December 26 Election The Ukraine needs to have the December 26 re-run of its presidential election observed by fair-minded observers from outside that country. I appeal for there to be one or two Scots present then at every polling station and at all the counting of votes to help ensure absolute democratic fairness this time. The Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU) has been told by myself that this appeal is being made here in Scotland. CVU is a ten year-old independent non-governmental organisation dedicated to legitimacy and openness and electoral and other rights of citizen protection, ensuring honest and democratic elections. So the Chairman of its Board, Igor Popov, tells me. He tells me, too, that they welcome the initiative being taken by myself to appeal for Scottish observers who will join those already known to be coming from elsewhere in Europe, from Canada, and other parts of the world. CVU’s address is: 01135 KIYV-135, Box 5, Ukraine. Its Tel/Fax number is: 00 380 44 490 61 35, and its E-mail address is: www.cvu.org.ua. MICHAEL RITCHIE, Regent and Acting Chancellor (Chief Minister) of the Kingdom of Scotland issued from: The Blue House, Duns.
I wonder if the Sheriff of Duns should not look into all this.
