Transparent Elections to Lead Afghanistan Towards Stability?

?Afghanistan will fall to insecurity and instability if the presidential elections are held with fraud, said Zalmai Rasool, the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.?

?On a visit with Balkh’s governor Atta Mohammad Noor? ?in Mazar e Sharif, alongside parliament representatives, Rasool said that the government is attempting to hold a transparent presidential election in 2014.?
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?”If the election is transparent and a democratic political transition can occur, then I assure you that Afghanistan will move towards improvement and stability – otherwise we will face big problems in the future,” said Rasool.?
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?The minister denied any secret negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, pointing to the fact that the Qatar office is still not open.?
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?Peaceful negotiations will continue with the Taliban only if they accept Afghanistan’s constitution, added Rasool.?
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?”First, we will negotiate with those Taliban who want peace. Second, they should respect Afghanistan’s constitution – which is a big achievement in the country. Last, they should lay down their arms,” said Rasool. “And then, we will welcome them as Afghan citizens to come and participate in the election.” ?
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Governor Noor agreed, saying he welcomes peaceful negotiations with Taliban but added that the terms of the negotiations should be clearly defined.?
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?”There should be a clear mechanisms and rules about the Taliban who join the peace process,” said Noor. “For example, how can they be effective in the peace process? Can they persuade others to join in the process? What about the issue of them going back and joining the opposing group. There must be clear and effective mechanisms at play.”

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Tags: Afghanistan, elections, lead, Stability?, to, towards, transparent

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