KABUL - Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August are just one month away.

Forty one presidential candidates, including two women and more than 3,000 provincial council candidates are campaigning for people’s votes.

Last week the UN Security Council welcomed the Afghan-led preparations for the upcoming elections.

The Council called on the people of Afghanistan to exercise their vote in this historic opportunity for all Afghans to make their voices heard.

It urged all parties to adhere to the fundamental principles in the electoral law and other regulations to ensure a credible electoral process.

Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda, president of the Security Council for the month of July said that the Council “reaffirms the primary responsibility of the Afghan Government and the Independent Electoral Commission to set the necessary conditions for elections, with the active support of the international community. The Security Council welcomes the intention of international partners, including the European Union and the OSCE, to send electoral observation missions and support teams at the request of the Afghan Government."

At the end of June the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide, whilst briefing the Security Council, said the elections where vital for the future of Afghanistan: “It is about strengthening peoples' confidence in the democratic process, and about strengthening Afghanistan's institutions. It is not only who will lead, but about the legitimacy of leadership.”

Mr Eide said any election campaign is divisive, but he appealed to the candidates to conduct a campaign focused not only on who will lead the country, but where they will lead the country. He also called on the international community to avoid any interference or the appearance of interference in the election process.

“Any such interference would undermine the legitimacy of the process itself and the people's confidence in its future leaders. And it would, in particular, harm a future government's ability to bring the Afghan people together in a credible peace process,” said Mr Eide.

In the meantime the huge logistical operation in support of Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission continues.

Thousands of ballot papers arrived in Kabul over the weekend on four flights.

The special elections free phone helpline, 190, has increased the number of operators from 30 to 60 and is taking 30,000 to 40,000 calls a week with the capacity to receive up to 60,000 calls a week.

More than 1,600 civic educators are briefing voters across the country with an eleven-page flip chart detailing the election process.

The Election Commission has also started a massive broadcasting campaign of informational television and radio advertising spots.

The Electoral Complaints Commission is expanding its reach across the country and the Media Commission is monitoring the media coverage by Afghanistan’s televisions and radio stations.

Speaking at the Security Council on 30 June, Mr Eide warned that a recent surge of violence accompanying the election campaign should not be allowed to stop the progress made in strengthening security, in reforming agriculture and the private sector and improving revenue.

“My fear, however, is that the noise from the election campaign and the fighting season will absorb so much energy and attention that it will overshadow these positive trends and affect the momentum that has now developed. If we do not succeed in maintaining this momentum, then I am afraid we will witness new stagnation and disillusionment among the public,” he said.

By Dominic Medley, UNAMA

Website: Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan