Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Voting in the Presidential Election in Afghanistan

October 12, 2004

We welcome the fact that the ballot for the Presidential election in Afghanistan was held on October 9 (Sat) and 10 (Sun), and hope that confirmation of the successful candidate will proceed smoothly.
The election is a great milestone on the political process that has been carried out in Afghanistan since the Bonn Agreement reached on December 2001. Japan's election observation team headed by Mr. Juichi Takahara, Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, reports that as far as the mission observed, the election was implemented without major disruption that could influence the result. As the Joint Electoral Management Body, whose members are from the United Nations and the Government of Afghanistan, evaluates, it is very important for the national reconstruction of Afghanistan that the voting for the Presidential election was held without major disruption of public order.
Japan intends to continue its support in all the fields of political process, security sector, humanitarian aid and reconstruction for the consolidation of peace in Afghanistan.
Japan has cooperated with the international community for the election to be held in Afghanistan in a democratic and fair manner, and has extended assistance to the voter registration project and the election project in addition to the creation of an environment adequate to hold elections through its support for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) for ex-combatants.

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