A Victory of All Afghans
Interview with Mohammad Reza Bahrami
A recount of 10 per cent of the votes in Afghanistan presidential elections pushed Hamed Karzai’s votes under the required fifty percent and led to a runoff. However, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had prematurely congratulated Hamed Karzai. Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Iran’s former ambassador Afghanistan has answered two questions on the second round of election and Ahmadinejad’s letter to Karzai:
The presidential runoff in Afghanistan calls for a detailed analysis. I believe that the legal institutions in charge did a perfect job. Their efforts resulted in to a runoff and all the parties have accepted their verdict. I would like to look at the second round of election from three angles:
Firstly, all the political groups accepted the runoff and did not resort to unlawful tactics. That is another constructive step forward which will reinforce Afghanistan’s legal mechanisms and reduce law-violation. It will also increase the legitimacy of any candidate that rises to power.
Secondly, I think that the course of developments, especially during the recent weeks, had raised some doubts about the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, the Afghan institution in charge of holding and monitoring the election. United Nations also came under question. UN envoy to Afghanistan had also admitted to vote-manipulation. However, we should not forget that UN Afghanistan bureau is an influential coordinator in Afghanistan affairs which has managed to preserve its central role. The bureau has always facilitated stability and security and it will do so in the future.
Thirdly, I would like to address security, the key challenge to holding the elections. I believe different domestic and foreign institutions inside Afghanistan, and the country’s neighbors should pave the way for a larger turnout in the runoff. The larger the participation, the more the power of the next administration and promotion of democracy. Holding the second round of election and Afghans’ participation per se gives everyone the message that ’people’ are the ones who determine the next Afghan administration.
Ahmadinejad’s hasty letter of congratulation
My understanding of Ahmadinejad’s message is that it was congratulation for successfully holding the electoral procedure, since it was the first time an Afghan institution shouldered the responsibility for elections. In the first presidential election, UN was in charge of holding the poll. Thus, this election was a victory for all Afghan institutions.
The presidential runoff in Afghanistan calls for a detailed analysis. I believe that the legal institutions in charge did a perfect job. Their efforts resulted in to a runoff and all the parties have accepted their verdict. I would like to look at the second round of election from three angles:
Firstly, all the political groups accepted the runoff and did not resort to unlawful tactics. That is another constructive step forward which will reinforce Afghanistan’s legal mechanisms and reduce law-violation. It will also increase the legitimacy of any candidate that rises to power.
Secondly, I think that the course of developments, especially during the recent weeks, had raised some doubts about the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, the Afghan institution in charge of holding and monitoring the election. United Nations also came under question. UN envoy to Afghanistan had also admitted to vote-manipulation. However, we should not forget that UN Afghanistan bureau is an influential coordinator in Afghanistan affairs which has managed to preserve its central role. The bureau has always facilitated stability and security and it will do so in the future.
Thirdly, I would like to address security, the key challenge to holding the elections. I believe different domestic and foreign institutions inside Afghanistan, and the country’s neighbors should pave the way for a larger turnout in the runoff. The larger the participation, the more the power of the next administration and promotion of democracy. Holding the second round of election and Afghans’ participation per se gives everyone the message that ’people’ are the ones who determine the next Afghan administration.
Ahmadinejad’s hasty letter of congratulation
My understanding of Ahmadinejad’s message is that it was congratulation for successfully holding the electoral procedure, since it was the first time an Afghan institution shouldered the responsibility for elections. In the first presidential election, UN was in charge of holding the poll. Thus, this election was a victory for all Afghan institutions.