Elections Fraud, Procedural Weaknesses should be Addressed: NATO
After two days of talks in Brussels, attended by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, NATO FMs issued a statement calling on the regional countries to support the peace process in Afghanistan. It also stressed that election fraud and procedural weaknesses should be seriously addressed.
After two days of talks in Brussels, attended by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, NATO FMs issued a statement calling on the regional countries to support the peace process in Afghanistan. It also stressed that election fraud and procedural weaknesses should be seriously addressed.
The NATO Foreign Ministers (FMs) met in Brussels on 4, 5 December 2018 to reaffirm their steadfast commitment to ensuring long-term security and stability in Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan has entered a critical phase in building and consolidating democracy. We recognize the parliamentary elections held in October 2018 as a clear sign of Afghan support for the democratic process. Voters, one third of them female, defied threats of violence and went to polling stations to shape the future of their country. This is an encouraging sign of their determination and ownership,” NATO FMs said in a statement that has been sent to DID Press Agency.
NATO condemned in the strongest possible terms all acts of violence committed by insurgent and terrorist groups in Afghanistan before, during and after the electoral process.
Although, there were significant shortcomings, and organizational changes are required prior to holding the presidential election next year, “We specifically call upon the Afghan authorities to address the problems caused by fraud and procedural weaknesses, and to update and audit voter registration databases for the affected provinces. We encourage all stakeholders to engage in the process fairly and in good faith. Successful elections will further reinforce Afghanistan’s path towards stability, security and peace,”
Pointing to the historic ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr, which it has shown the world that Afghanistan wants peace, and that the violence can be stopped, NATO fully supports an inclusive peace agreement based on national consensus.
“we fully support their aim to end the conflict by reaching an inclusive peace agreement based on national consensus. We emphasize the particular importance of fully including women in political, peace and reconciliation processes,”
“NATO Allies and Operational Partners will respect and support an inclusive, negotiated and durable political settlement led by Afghans, which ends violence, ensures Afghanistan is never again used as a platform for terrorist attacks against any other country, and protects the human rights of all Afghan citizens, notably those of women and children in accordance with the Afghan constitution and international norms and standards,”
NATO FMs also encouraged Afghanistan’s neighbours to contribute to regional stability by respecting and fully supporting an Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
