KABUL - UN Secretary General Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto has said holding of timely, credible, and accepted elections was indispensable to maintain the constitutional order and trust in the representative system of government.
Addressing the UNSC, he said there has been insufficient progress on electoral preparations. The lack of progress, and intense criticism from electoral stakeholders, led the independent electoral commission to vote to remove its chairman.
“The commission needs to demonstrably advance on electoral preparations to regain its credibility,” he said.
The UN technical support team had been working closely with the IEC on the operational concept of voter registration and would assist the commission in its implementation, though this is ultimately a process that must be owned and led by Afghan institutions.
The envoy underlined security as a defining factor enabling credible and inclusive elections. The Afghan Government needed to have a thorough security plan for this democratic exercise, he said..
The special representative called upon Afghans to come together and find ways to build their own joint future.
“I also called upon each country of the region to help create an environment conducive to peace in Afghanistan and the region. We must use the upcoming winter months, when conflict levels tend to decrease, to advance on this issue before the cycle of violence is renewed next spring,” he said.
The envoy called on the Taliban to express a clear willingness to begin negotiations towards a political settlement, and to start the initial dialogue.
He said The Kabul Process meeting planned for February 1 would offer an opportunity. At the meeting, the Government of Afghanistan was expected to present its strategic concept for reaching a political settlement with the armed opposition, and seek the support of the international community.
He added the Government and the international partners must focus on how levels of violence could be reduced next year. “We must also seek commencement of a structured dialogue for peace.” (Pajhwok)