High level huddle discusses WJ polls

Fuente: 
The Frontier Post
Fecha de publicación: 
09 Feb 2017

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said the government has strong will to implement comprehensive reforms and hold the Wolesi Jirga elections.
A statement from the Presidential Palace to Pajhwok Afghan News said the president chaired a meeting attended by Independent Election Commission (IEC) commissioners, the UN special representative and a number of foreign envoys.
CEO Abdullah Abdullah also attended the meeting that discussed preparations for holding the parliamentary and district council elections.
IEC chief Najibullah Ahmadzai presented his report about the commission’s financial, legal and technical developments as well as consultations with political parties about the elections.
The president urged the IEC to organize the election schedule and requirements of the commission so its operations proceeded without any interruption.
“The IEC should organize its plans and procurements in a way to be cost-effective and stable,” the statement quoted the president as saying.
Ghani suggested creation of an information technology committee in the IEC to could ensure transparent elections.
He also stressed prevention of mistakes made in the past elections and said the capacity of human resources should be effectively used in the upcoming elections.
The president also stressed overall transparency of elections and said anyone who attempted fraud and corruption in elections would be taken to justice under the new election law.
“The government is committed to providing $30 million fund for the procurement of upcoming elections,” he said. Abdullah on the occasion also said the government had strong will for holding the elections. He stressed organizational reforms in the IEC.
Foreign envoys welcomed the government’s stance on the upcoming elections and pledged support to the democratic process.
They suggested the creation of a permanent committee to work in different electoral areas, particularly finance, security and technical.
The president said standards and foundations should be defined and used in the 2017 and 2019 elections.
The statement said Second Vice-President Sarwar Danish, Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi, IEC commissioners, and ambassadors of the US, the UK, EU, Norway, Japan and Germany as well as NATO’s RS mission representative also participated in the meeting.