KABUL - Afghanistan’s Lower House of Parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, convened today as its 249 members were sworn in by President Hamid Karzai. This is the country’s second Parliament to be inaugurated since 2001. There are 69 women members of the assembly.

“Today is a historical day for Afghanistan and for all the countries wishing and working with Afghanistan for its future,” Staffan de Mistura, the Special-Representative of the UN Secretary-General, told journalists following the ceremony.

The inauguration comes four months after the 18 September elections organized by Afghanistan’s Independent Elections Commission (IEC) with oversight by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided technical and logistical support for the polls.

Over 5 million ballots were cast in the parliamentary elections, with voters braving threats and a very tense security situation. The IEC detected widespread irregularities and instances of fraud, and ultimately disqualified around 1.2 million ballots.

Tensions rose in the past week with more than 200 losing candidates sitting-in the presidential palace and holding rolling demonstrations to protest President Karzai’s decision to open the legislature before a special tribunal had reviewed all allegations of voting irregularities.

A political compromise led to today’s inauguration, while the courts will continue to investigate allegations of criminal fraud.

Speaking to the media today, Special Representative de Mistura emphasized the significance of the Parliament being able to start its work, including approving the State budget, while “justice can continue to take its course.” This echoed the 22 December statement of UN Security Council, where members specified that Afghan institutions should continue “to act within their clearly defined areas of competence, in accordance with the relevant laws and the Afghan Constitution.”

In a broad ranging speech at the inauguration, President Karzai spoke of the need for Afghans to increasingly take the lead in all aspects of governance and development of their country.

De Mistura highlighted this point, saying that “transition” will be the key word in Afghanistan in 2011 as Afghans increasingly manage all aspects of security and governance.

President Karzai also emphasized that the parliamentarians must represent all Afghans, and not simply focus on individual provinces or communities, in a call for national unity.

De Mistura praised the President for showing "great statesmanship" by opening the Parliament.

By UNAMA