Top UN envoy pledges clean elections

KABUL pledged to work with the country’s electoral authorities to ensure the sustainability, integrity and inclusiveness of future polls.

Jan Kubis, the secretary-general’s special representative held out the pledge at a meeting with Independent Election Commission (IEC) Chairman Fazl Ahmad Manawi.

Also the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Kubis discussed the mission’s mandate, mainly its role in the poll process.

“I plan being an active partner of the government, the institutions and the civil society of Afghanistan in working to strengthen the integrity of future polls,” he said, stressing Afghan authorities would be leading the process.

During the meeting, Manawi outlined IEC’s plans for public consultations on electoral issues with a wide spectrum of stakeholders and highlighted the need to strengthen voter registration.

In a statement, UNAMA called electoral planning and preparations a long-term processes that required a comprehensive and inclusive approach in working towards the next round of elections.

The world body provides technical assistance to the IEC through a UN Development Programme (UNDP) project that focuses on the development of the panel’s institutional, technical and operational capacity.

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