UN concerned at challenges to Afghan elections

The UN chief’s special representative has voiced his concern at security and political challenges to Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections, slated for October 20.
Tadamichi Yamamoto warned on Monday: “Political challenges could jeopardize the tight timelines and derail the elections unless all political leaders engage constructively to ensure the elections are held on time.”
Briefing the UN Security Council, he said the world body was aware of real fraud that could take place, as well as allegations of fraud which might have the tactical purpose of discrediting already difficult elections.
The elections would be a test for Afghanistan’s nascent democratic institutions, he said, adding the Independent Election Commission was expected to perform with integrity and accountability to the Afghan people.
Almost a third of 7,000 polling centers could not open due to insecurity, raising concerns about inclusivity of the democratic exercise, the top UN diplomat said.
UNAMA would do everything possible within its mandate and with the resources available to support a successful electoral process in the country, he promised.
President Ashraf Ghani’s offer to the Taliban to engage in talks without preconditions had created unprecedented political space for peace, culminating in the temporary ceasefire in June, he said.
He believed all actors recognized the craving of the Afghan people for peace and the undeniable need for a peace process. “We are in a better position now than at any time in the past 17 years to commence the process which would lead to talks for a negotiated end to the conflict.
“It will require resilience and persistence by all sides. The efforts of the Afghan government, which we hope would be reciprocated by the Taliban,” the UNAMA chief remarked.
Yamamoto urged all sides to agree on concrete measures to build confidence towards more structured talks. He suggested prisoner releases and improvement in agriculture, education and health sectors.