09 October 2004
United States Congratulates Afghan People on Successful Election
Voter turnout was high for first election in 5,000 years
Special Presidential Envoy and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated the people of Afghanistan on successfully holding their national election for president October 9.
"The Afghan Nation has spoken -- it has voted for democracy and freedom," Khalilzad said in a statement issued the same day by the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
"This is a triumph for Afghanistan. Once again, the Afghan people have shown that they have seized the moment to establish democracy and secure their freedom. All Afghans should be proud of what their country has achieved today," Khalilzad said.
Initial reports indicate that voter turnout -- by both men and women -- was extraordinarily high for the country's first election for head of state in the Afghan people's 5,000-year history.
Afghan, coalition and the International Security Assistance Force should be congratulated for ensuring the safety of voters across the country, the statement says. Efforts by the Taliban to disrupt the voting were limited to small-scale, isolated attacks, largely in the south and east, it reports.
In a separate statement issued October 9 by the Department of State in Washington, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher called the election a "milestone on the Afghan people's road to democratic government and vibrant civil society."
He added that in the spring of 2005 the people of Afghanistan will return to the polls to select members of parliament and local governments.
The United States and the international community will continue to support them "as they work toward this brighter future," he said.
Following are the texts of Khalilzad's and Boucher's statements:
(begin text)
U.S. Embassy in Kabul
Press release, October 9, 2004
U.S. Congratulates the Afghan People on their Historic Triumph
Kabul, Afghanistan -- Special Presidential Envoy and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated the Afghan people this evening for successfully holding their national election for president.
"The Afghan Nation has spoken -- it has voted for democracy and freedom. This is a triumph for Afghanistan. Once again, the Afghan people have shown that they have seized the moment to establish democracy and secure their freedom. All Afghans should be proud of what their country has achieved today," Ambassador Khalilzad said.
Khalilzad continued, "Today's elections were a profound success, as demonstrated by the high voter turnout and the Afghan people's enthusiasm and pride in their country's first election for head of state in their 5,000-year history."
Initial reports indicate that voter turnout was extraordinarily high. Long lines were reported at polling stations throughout the country, and voting hours were extended to accommodate the turnout. In Bamiyan, for instance, Afghans stood in line for up to two hours in the snow to cast their vote. The participation of women in the election also appears to be high, even in areas such as Kandahar and Khost where some observers thought their turnout would be low. "Afghans, men and women alike, have once again met the challenge of this historic day," said Khalilzad.
We have taken note that some, including presidential candidates, have made accusations of technical problems and irregularities, particularly concerning the indelible ink applied to the thumbs of voters at polling places. Technical problems arise even in the elections of advanced countries. It is not surprising that some would occur in a country that is holding its first national election in decades. JEMB [Joint Electoral Management Body] and UNAMA [United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] sought to address these difficulties with resourcefulness. All along, the Afghan people's confidence in the voting process remained steadfast.
"We recognize that some allegations remain and that there should be a process to address these allegations through a thorough and transparent investigation," said Khalilzad.
As the JEMB indicated in its statement earlier today, "All complaints and irregularities raised with the JEMB will be thoroughly investigated and taken into account when the JEMB deliberates on the extent to which the election accurately reflects the will of the Afghan people."
"In a democratic process, winners and losers have responsibilities. We do not yet know who is the winner in this election. However, the responsibility of all candidates is not to raise allegations of wrongdoing intended solely to paralyze the democratic process. For Afghanistan to win, the losers in the election should not undermine the achievement of the Afghan people," Khalilzad said.
Afghan, Coalition and ISAF forces should be congratulated for ensuring the safety of voters across the country. Efforts by the Taliban to disrupt the voting were limited to small-scale, isolated attacks, largely in the south and east.
"I want to thank Afghan soldiers and police, the Coalition, and ISAF for their excellent preparations to thwart the efforts of the extremists and terrorists. Today was a triumph for the Afghan people and a big defeat for the enemies of Afghanistan. These enemies wanted to derail the democratic process. And they failed," Khalilzad concluded.
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(begin text)
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
October 9, 2004
Elections in Afghanistan
Today history was made in Afghanistan. We congratulate the Afghan people on exercising their political right to choose their country's next leader. They have much to be proud of in bringing their country to this point, just three years after the end of a quarter century of war and repression.
In these elections, millions of Afghans voted to select their next president through secret ballot across their country, and in Iran and Pakistan. The country had its first-ever election for a head of state. Initial reports indicate that turnout was extraordinarily high. Voters, including a large number of women, waited patiently for hours to cast their votes. Voting hours were extended at some polling stations to accommodate the heavy turnout. Based on first reports, we are encouraged that polling day proceeded calmly and that no major security incidents occurred. The voting is now finished, and the results will be tabulated over the days to come.
We note that there were reports of technical problems at some polling stations. We are confident that the Joint Electoral Management Body, which is charged with overseeing the elections, will review and address those complaints, as it has pledged to do. In its statement today, the Body promised that all complaints would be thoroughly investigated.
This election is the latest milestone on the Afghan people's road to democratic government and vibrant civil society. In the spring, they will take another major step in charting their political future when they return to the polls to select members of parliament and local governments. The United States and the international community will continue to support them as they work toward this brighter future.
2004/1095
Released on October 9, 2004
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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