June 27, 2009
President Karzai urges Afghans to Participate in Elections

H.E. President Hamid Karzai urged all Afghans to participate in the up-coming elections.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, President Karzai said, “I call upon all Afghans, eligible to vote in the elections, to participate in the elections and elect their President and representatives of the Provincial Councils, and lead their country towards peace, stability and prosperity.”
President Karzai, during Saturday’s press conference encouraged Taliban and members of Hezb-e-Islami to stop fighting not only during the elections but for ever and participate in the elections. “I call upon all oppositions to return to their country; participate in the elections; and vote for the person they favor”, said the President.
Touching on the issue of the transparency of the elections, the President said, “Presidential and Provincial Council candidates need to be assured of the transparency of the elections, therefore I once again urge the government institutions and the international community to remain impartial during the elections.”
Answering to a question about the recent meetings of particular candidates with foreign diplomats, President Karzai said that the meetings themselves weren’t subject to any objection by the Afghan government, but the announcement of sensitive issues like “bringing changes in the Afghan Constitution and the governance structure of Afghanistan”  by particular candidates at press conferences in presence of foreign diplomats were matters of concern for the government of Afghanistan.