16 September 2010 - Staffan de Mistura, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, today visited the southern city of Kandahar with Abdullah Ahmadzai, Chief Electoral Officer of Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC) to meet with local leaders and electoral officials and express UN support for Saturday’s parliamentary polls.

Dari - Pashto

“I visited Kandahar in order to listen to the concerns of those involved in supporting and conducting the elections, as well as to those of tribal elders who are leaders in their communities,” said de Mistura.

“The purpose of my visit was to demonstrate the support of the United Nations for the independent electoral authorities and the people of Afghanistan as they prepare to vote."

De Mistura met with Tooryalai Wesa, Provincial Governor of Kandahar, Ghulam Haidar Hamedi, Mayor of Kandahar city, as well as a group of tribal elders, who updated on the final preparations for the ballot. He expressed his hope that the people of Kandahar would come out to vote on 18 September.

“Kandahar is a major centre of Afghanistan, and the people of Kandahar have a vital role to play in strengthening democracy in their country,” he said.

Discussions also focused on the importance of the measures being taken by the IEC to improve the electoral process.

“The electoral authorities have learned many lessons from the experience of last year, in particular in improving their systems to prevent massive fraud. These elections will not be perfect, but I am hopeful that they will be better than last year’s election.”

"I am however concerned about the still low number of female searchers and female polling staff in the city and in particular in the outskirts. A substantial act of participation of women in these important elections is crucial," he concluded.

De Mistura also met with Major General Nick Carter (UK), the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Commander, and was briefed on security preparations for the elections.