09 July 2004

United States Supports Timetable for Afghan Elections, July 9, 2004

(President to be elected in October, parliament in spring 2005)

The United States welcomes and supports the decision made by the U.N.-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body to hold Afghanistan's presidential election in October and parliamentary elections in spring 2005.

According to a July 9 statement by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, the United States will do its part to assist the elections, which he described as "another major milestone in Afghanistan's transition to a constitutional, representative government."

Following is the text of the State Department statement:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 9, 2004

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Afghanistan's National Elections

The United States welcomes the decision of the UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) to schedule Afghanistan's presidential elections in October and parliamentary elections in Spring 2005. These elections will represent another major milestone in Afghanistan's transition to a constitutional, representative government.

We join the Afghan Government in fully supporting the Electoral Body's decision and will do our part to assist these historic elections. Despite threats and attacks by the Taliban, the Afghan people have shown their strong desire to exercise their democratic rights, and they are registering in large numbers for the elections.

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