Tackling Afghanistan’s Challenges Requires Partnership, Says Secretary-General,

Urging Candidates to Conclude Agreement on Government of National Unity

 

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today:

The Secretary-General urges Afghanistan’s two presidential candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, to conclude an agreement on a government of national unity in accordance with the commitments they reached on 12 July.

The Secretary-General emphasizes that this is a pivotal moment for Afghanistan, and that genuine partnership will be required in tackling Afghanistan’s many challenges.  Both parties share a real responsibility to guide Afghanistan to a peaceful and more prosperous future.  Given the scale of the challenges, this can only be done jointly.

The Secretary-General notes that in the 12 July agreement, reached with the support of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, and their signed communiqué of 8 August, the two candidates agreed to accept the result of a comprehensive nationwide audit of the presidential election run-off results and form a government of national unity.

With the main audit completed on 4 September and the announcement of updated results anticipated shortly, the Secretary-General expects that the candidates will now abide by their commitments to enable Afghanistan’s first ever peaceful transfer of power.

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For information media • not an official record