KABUL - The United Nations in Afghanistan today assured that every effort will be made to ensure security in the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections.

“Allow me to assure you that there will be no let up on behalf of the international community in underlining the importance of security over the coming weeks so every Afghan who has the constitutional and democratic right to vote is provided with that opportunity on poling day,” said Aleem Siddique, UNAMA’s spokesperson at a press conference in Kabul.

Forty one presidential candidates, among them two women, are running for president while more than 3,000 hopefuls contest for the provincial council seats.

Security is considered as the biggest challenge for the upcoming elections to be held on 20 August, the first organized by Afghans themselves.

“Security is imperative for the forthcoming elections. Voters must have confidence that they can vote without fear, without intimidation and in safety,” added Mr Siddique.

Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission is organizing this year’s elections while the 2004/2005 elections were run by the Joint Electoral Management Body – an international body.

With a month to go to Afghanistan’s second presidential elections to be held since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, preparations for the upcoming elections are in full swing.

More than 1,600 civic educators are briefing voters across the country with an eleven-page flip chart detailing the process while a special elections free phone helpline is taking 30,000 to 40,000 calls a week.

“As we speak, 17 million ballot papers are being transported, across the country, to every province, in a safe and secure manner,” said Mr Siddique noting that “these are all encouraging signs that bode well for the coming weeks as we approach polling day.”

About 12.5 million people, out of an estimated population of 30 million, registered for the last election while 4.5 million Afghans from across the country have registered for the first time for this year’s elections. Those who still had their registration cards from the last elections didn't have to re-register.

Summer in Afghanistan is the peak fighting season. This year has been the bloodiest since the fall of the Taliban posing a threat to the upcoming elections.

“We do not underestimate the difficulty of this task {the elections} but from the United Nations and from all partners involved in this election process we make it clear that this is one of key priorities in the coming weeks,” said Mr Siddique.

“…. we ask the Afghan people not to let those who bring violence to Afghan communities to steal their opportunity to vote in these historic polls,” added Mr Siddique.

On Wednesday last week the UN Security Council welcomed the Afghan-led preparations for next month’s presidential and provincial council elections, and stressed the importance of “free, fair, transparent, credible, secure, and inclusive” polls.

“Success or failure of the elections does not depend on the international community or the IEC by itself. We need every Afghan to come out and vote on 20 August,” concluded Mr Siddique.

By Homayon Khoram, UNAMA

Website: Independent Election Commission