The United Kingdom on Thursday announced a contribution of8 million pounds to support the upcoming presidential election in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the British embassy in Kabul said that the amount will be made available by the UK’s Department for International Development to the UN Electoral Support Programme, which provides technical support to Afghanistan’s electoral bodies.
The funding includes a planned contribution of 4 million pounds to support preparations for the upcoming vote, which is scheduled for September 28.
“I am pleased that through this contribution the UK can continue to support Afghanistan’s democratic process,” said British Ambassador Alison Blake. “The UK strongly supports elections in Afghanistan in order that the Afghan people can have their rightful say in the future of their country.”
The envoy reiterated the importance of credible Presidential elections taking place.
“Timely elections are another step towards a more stable and democratic future for Afghanistan,” Blake said. “I welcome the Afghan Government’s own financial commitments to the electoral process, which is key to long term sustainability, as well as the contributions from the international community.”
The statement said that it is critical that the election is conducted in a fair manner, without interference of government officials or the use of state resources to benefit particular candidates.
The upcoming election is estimated to cost $149 million. The Afghan government will provide $90 million.
