The European Union (EU)'s top diplomat Javier Solana on Wednesday called on the Afghan authorities and other political actors in the country to cooperate "constructively" for the presidential elections in August this year, Xinhua reported.
"The European Union attaches the utmost importance to the holding of free and inclusive elections in Afghanistan. The elections are essential to guarantee the participation of the people of Afghanistan in the democratic process of state-building, " said Solana, EU high representative for the common foreign and security policy, in a statement welcoming the Afghan independent electoral commission's reaffirmation that the Afghan presidential and provincial council elections will be held on Aug. 20.
Solana said that the date will allow the time needed to make proper preparations that will ensure the "legitimacy" of the electoral process.
He urged all Afghan political actors to "adhere to the principles of transparency and integrity of the electoral process in order to ensure its strength and credibility."
Meanwhile, he pledged that the EU would be ready to assist the electoral process "in every possible way."