UN for inclusive talks on poll framework

KABUL Jan Kubis on Tuesday said the 2014 presidential election would be Afghan-led and Afghan-managed, emphasising the importance of inclusive dialogue in agreeing the electoral framework.

Kubis, who held talks with senior Afghan politicians, including Abdullah Abdullah, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Faizullah Zaki, Dr. Anwar and Member of parliament Asadullah Sadati, told a press conference in Kabul that he would continue consultations with stakeholders as per UNAMA’s mandate.

The politicians presented him their proposals for 2014 and 2015 elections. Extending support to the election process was one of his important priorities in Afghanistan, the diplomat said, stressing preparations for the ballot should be impartial. 

He said a delegation of election experts, led by a senior advisor to the UN secretary-general, recently visited Afghanistan. The team held meetings with government officials, Independent Election Commission (IEC groups to assess the situation.

Kubis said the delegation was currently busy compiling a report that would be presented to the UN headquarters in New York with a number of suggestions on UN’s support for the elections process in Afghanistan.

Kubis said results of elections should be based on principles so that they were acceptable to all Afghans by ensuring a majority them had participated.

To a question, he said providing security for polls was the responsibility of the Afghan government, but it would need cooperation from international troops to that end.

Kubis said foreign troops were preparing to leave Afghanistan until 2014, but some would remain to provide needed cooperation to the Afghan authorities for the polls taking place the same year.

On UNAMA cooperation with the Afghan-led peace process, he said the UN had played its part to some extend and had been in contact with various sides, including the peace panel, political parties and other Afghan sides.

He said the UN mission was in contact with armed groups who were willing to join the peace campaign in order to facilitate negotiations through various means. The UN Security Council is evaluating UNAMA activities in Afghanistan in mid March, he said.

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