The United Nations' top official in Afghanistan on Wednesday welcomed the decision by the country's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to confirm August 20 as the date for presidential and provincial elections. “This date will provide the time needed for the IEC with the support of the international community to make practical and logistical preparations, for candidates to campaign, and for Afghan and international forces to provide security,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary General Kai Eide, in a press release provided by the U.N. press office in New York. On Saturday, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said he wanted to push the elections forward to April to comply with the Afghan constitution but the U.N. said it would not be possible to hold successful elections at such an early date because of logistical, technical and security reasons. “Afghanistan's authorities and the international community have a shared responsibility for ensuring the transparency and integrity of the elections. The U.N. will be doing its utmost to contribute to this effort,” said Eide, a Norwegian diplomat.
