UN’s top envoy: Let Afghans vote

18 Aug 2009

UN’s top envoy: Let Afghans vote

KABUL - The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan appealed today to all groups threatening violence in Afghanistan on Election Day to allow their fellow Afghans to choose their future leader.

At a press conference in Kabul just two days before the 20 August presidential and provincial council elections, the UN’s Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, stressed: “I appeal again to those who threaten with violence - and use violence - to allow Afghans to choose who should be the future leader of Afghanistan.”

“I would like to repeat: this is an election organized by the Afghans themselves, not by the international community,” stressed Mr Eide.

“It is an election where the international community is and remains truly, totally impartial. It is up to the Afghans to choose their own leaders - period.”

The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also appealed to Afghan voters to “use their Constitutional right to vote and elect their future leaders – to vote for their future and, thereby, also voting against violence.”

Mr Eide added that when the elections are over “the political establishment must come together and demonstrate that the maturity of the election campaign is also reflected in a unity of purpose.”

“Afghanistan cannot afford anything else,” warned the UN’s head in Afghanistan, adding that “a national consensus must be formed to address the most critical problems this country faces.”

Mr Eide – who has been strongly campaigning for Afghan ownership in addressing the problems of Afghanistan – further stressed that while the international community has a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, the country should eventually stand on its own two feet.

“Over the next few years, I want us all to turn a page – I want Afghans and their leaders to take responsibility for their security and their development. For that, we need strong institutions,” said Mr Eide.

Pointing out that the international community should “more clearly play a supporting role,” the UNAMA head concluded his opening statement by saying: “These elections will be important to enable Afghanistan to take charge of its own destiny.”

By Aurora V. Alambra, UNAMA