TEXT OF IEC MARCH 4 PRESS STATEMENT CONFIRMING

UNCLAS KABUL 000501 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: TEXT OF IEC MARCH 4 PRESS STATEMENT CONFIRMING AUGUST 20 ELECTION DATE REF: KABUL 000455 ¶1. (SBU) As reported septel, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on March 4 held a press conference to re-confirm that, in the wake of President Karzai's ambiguous decree on the election date (reftel),presidential and provincial council elections will indeed be held August 20. The text of the IEC press release follows. ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Independent Election Commission In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful Statement of the Independent Election Commission regarding the determination of the date of holding the presidential and provincial council elections 04 March 09 According to article 156 of the Constitution, the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan has been established to administer and supervise elections in Afghanistan. During the preparation for conducting the next round of elections in Afghanistan, the IEC had a series of discussions with different stakeholders including respected Members of Parliament, His Excellency the President, and jihadi leaders. After these meetings on the 7th of April 2008, in the presence of His Excellency the President, His Excellency the Chief Justice, respected Speakers of both Houses, respected Chief Prosecutor, and jihadi leaders, the decision was made that the presidential and provincial council elections should be conducted in the fall of 2009 and the Wolesi Jirga and district council elections should be conducted in the summer of 2010. The IEC, based on this decision, started its practical activities for facilitating a transparent, general, fair, secret and direct election in the country. The voter registration process was conducted in four phases across the country and more than 4.5 million new voters registered, out of which more than 38% are female voters. The Independent Election Commission, considering the climate, budgetary, security and operational challenges announced the date of presidential and provincial council elections for the 20th of August 2009. On the 27th of February 2009, His Excellency the President issued a decree and, based on the decree, the Commission was advised to conduct general, secret, fair and direct elections throughout Afghanistan. The climate, security, budgetary and operational challenges have not yet been solved. The IEC is preparing to conduct transparent, fair, secret and general elections, which will be acceptable to the people of Afghanistan and the international community and legitimize the system based on the previous decision. The IEC will continue to share its concerns about solving these challenges with other national authorities. DELL