The United Nations and the United States Tuesday welcomed a decision by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to open the newly elected parliament after a delay of more than one month over fraud complaints, DPA reported.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) "commends the spirit of cooperation between the presidential office and the recently elected members of parliament," a statement said.
"This paves the way for the parliament to convene, in the presence of the president, and resume its important functions in the democratic governance of Afghanistan."
Karzai late Monday decided to open the new session of parliament Wednesday after threats from parliamentarians-elect to get started "with or without" him.
The president had delayed the new session by more than a month - time requested by a special court he formed to look into fraud complaints.
Karzai insisted that the special tribunal must still carry out its work. However, lawmakers and others including western allies, have said the special court was unconstitutional and asked for it to be disbanded.
"The United Nations also affirms the right of the judiciary to prosecute exclusively individual criminal cases pursuant to Afghan current applicable law without prejudice to due process and relevant immunities covered by constitutional provisions," the statement by the UNAMA said, calling the process "an encouraging sign of a progressing democracy."
The United States also said they welcomed the agreement between the lawmakers and the president.
"After a healthy and constructive debate between Afghan institutions, the outcome ultimately reached demonstrates respect for democratic governance and for the separation of powers set forth in the Afghan Constitution," the US Embassy in Kabul said.
"The outcome recognized the importance of the timely seating of the nation's parliamentarians."