EU calls for inclusive, credible elections

KABUL has urged the Karzai administration and all political actors to do all they can to ensure inclusive elections.

Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin, who went to Herat on his first domestic trip on Saturday since his arrival in Kabul, called urged candidates to respect election procedures and provide necessary support for the process.

“All actors across the country, including the government, political, tribal and religious leaders together with the civil society have a responsibility to ensure the elections are transparent, credible, and inclusive with a legitimate outcome.

“It will be critical that all candidates respect the election procedures and provide necessary support to the electoral process, not the least by encouraging Afghans to cast their votes on Election Day”, he observed.

A statement from EU said Mellbin participated in the Herat Security Dialogue 2013, organised by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) and for the second year held at the Herat Citadel.

At the conference featuring several national and international actors, also from neighbouring countries, a wide range of topics including the presidential elections, the transformation decade, security, counterterrorism and regional cooperation were discussed.

The envoy also met Brig. Gen. Pellegrino, commander of the ISAF Regional Commander West, and paid a visit to the EUPOL Field Office, where he was briefed on the mission’s current activities in Herat.

pr/mud

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