UNAMA welcomes release of preliminary results from presidential polls

26 Apr 2014

UNAMA welcomes release of preliminary results from presidential polls

KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes today's release of preliminary results from the country’s Presidential elections as an important step towards next month's scheduled announcement of final results from the 5 April poll.

“The Afghan electoral institutions should be commended for their work to make the process more transparent than ever before," said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš, "They should also be commended for their efforts to protect the integrity of the election process and the votes of the people, while doing their utmost to work in accordance with the electoral timetable.”

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) should be acknowledged for their serious effort to separate clean from fraudulent votes before releasing the preliminary results.

The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) is tasked with adjudicating electoral complaints from the 5 April polls. Only after the adjudication is completed will the IEC announce the final results, scheduled to take place on 14 May.

“It is now of fundamental importance that the IECC continues to carry out its obligations to address complaints, notably related to the preliminary results in a professional, expeditious and open manner,” Mr. Kubiš said.

The IEC and IECC need to closely coordinate their work to ensure that credible complaints are properly handled and that the integrity of the electoral process is safeguarded.

Mr. Kubiš said that he looks forward to the release of the final results, and called for all presidential candidates and their supporters to display respect for the process and the national electoral institutions authorized to lead the process.