Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 22 / Trend , T.Konyayeva/
The European Union Election Observation Mission welcomes the holding of the presidential elections as a victory of the Afghan people, because they have been the first elections which were held by the Afghan people.
The election process at this stage is estimated positive. Currently, the Afghan people need to rely on the democratic foundations that were laid.
On Aug. 20, Afghanistan started the election of the president and members of provincial councils. Some 17 million of 29 million Afghan population have the right to vote. Since the beginning of the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan in 2001, the presidential elections will be the second one. Representatives of 76 international organizations attended the presidential elections as observers.
The EU Mission has observed all aspects of the process around the country for the past two months. Despite operational shortcomings and some institutional flaws, the Independent Election Commission generally functioned efficiently, adhering to its tight timeline in implementing electoral operations.
The legal framework provided a reasonable basis for the conduct of elections. Despite being established late in the process, the Electoral Complaints Commission was able to improve the regulatory and operational framework in adjudicating complaints.
The independent commission on the claims and complaints receives all complaints about violations in the voting process. Only after the end of its work, the final results of the elections will be divulged.
The exercise of women's civil and political rights, both as voters and as candidates, was severely limited in the elections, despite being enshrined in the Constitution.
Civil society organisations contributed to the democratic process, and the large numbers of domestic observers and candidate agents at polling centres enabled Afghans themselves to contribute to a system of transparency.
The Mission will continue to observe the post-electoral period, including the tallying of the results, intake procedures, audits, the complaints and appeals process, and any run-off election.
The mission has been present in Afghanistan since 3rd July, with some 250 dedicated staff deployed around the country.
At present, Afghanistan is calculating the results of the presidential elections held on Aug.20. Despite terrorist's numerous threats, more people attended the elections.
About 50-55 percent of electorates participated in the elections, Vice-President of the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission, Davud Najafi told Trend earlier.