UN chief says passage of Afghan Election Structure Law a ‘key step’ ahead of 2014 polls

18 Jul 2013

UN chief says passage of Afghan Election Structure Law a ‘key step’ ahead of 2014 polls

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

NEW YORK - The Secretary-General welcomes the presidential endorsement and enactment of the Law Regulating the Structure and Responsibilities of Afghanistan's Electoral Management Bodies.

The law is a key step toward establishing a robust electoral architecture for Afghanistan’s Presidential and Provincial Council elections due to take place on 5 April 2014.

The Secretary-General looks forward to the speedy implementation of the law to facilitate transparent, credible and inclusive elections. He also welcomes the National Assembly’s approval this week of the Electoral Law, which defines the legal framework of Afghanistan's electoral processes. He expresses the hope that the President will also consider this law at the earliest opportunity. This will be another key step in creating the electoral framework for next year’s polls.

Afghan-led and Afghan-managed 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council elections are central to Afghanistan's stable and sustainable political transition. The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to engage constructively in efforts to ensure that the elections are held according to the Afghan Constitution and the Independent Election Commission's timeline.