EU wants IEC, IECC to improve coordination

KABUL (Pajhwok): The European Union on Friday urged all Afghans to use their constitutional right to vote in Saturday’s runoff election and thereby help advance democracy in their country.

On the eve of the second round of the presidential ballot, the EU special representative in Afghanistan said every vote would be a vote for peace. “Vote, not violence, should determine the future of Afghanistan.”

Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin asked the candidates and their supporters to respect the voting, counting and tallying procedures and oppose any attempt at committing fraud.

In a statement, the envoy hoped the electoral institutions would play a key role in ensuring a legitimate outcome. The trust of Afghan voters and candidates in both institutions will be greatly increased by the transparent and consistent implementation of election procedures.

The EU encouraged the IEC and IECC to improve coordination and interact closely with each other, candidate representatives and election observers.

The EU Election Assessment Team, led by Chief Observer Thijs Berman, has been in Afghanistan since March and continues to observe the electoral process, with the aim of contributing to its inclusiveness and transparency.

Millions of Afghan women and men will go to the polls tomorrow to choose their next president; paving the way for the country’s first democratic transition of power.

pr/mud

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