KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations top diplomat in Afghanistan on Wednesday said there would be no international meddling in Saturday’s presidential and provincial elections.
“There is no foreign interference in your elections. These elections are the elections of the Afghan people; Afghan political forces for Afghan candidates,” he said.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Jan Kubiš told reporters in Kabul Afghans should use the opportunity to shape the future of their country through peaceful democratic means.
About last month’s Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Kubiš, said the 15-member UN body was unanimous on the importance of the elections for the country’s future stability and continued international support.
“The council’s message to the people of Afghanistan was: use this chance, this is your chance, this is your right, you should not allow anyone to deprive you of your right vote,” he added.
With Afghanistan going through political and security transitions, the message of the global fraternity was one of confidence and hope, he observed, noting the high turnout in urban and rural areas during the two-month election campaign period.
The election would not be flawless, but it could be a tool of promoting democratic and political processes, he remarked, calling monitoring a fundamental element in ensuring the quality and legitimacy of polls.
The UN mission is providing technical support to Afghan authorities in organising the elections, which officials have described as critical to Afghanistan’s future stability and continued international support.
More than 200,000 Afghan and foreign observers, who have registered with the electoral bodies, will monitor the process.
The envoy said Pakistani leaders had told him during a recent visit that they wanted peaceful and inclusive elections in Afghanistan. They said Islamabad was supporting no specific candidate.
Source/Fuente: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2014/04/02/no-foreign-meddling-saturday%E2%80%...
