Kabul: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Afghan presidential candidates to accept the comprehensive vote audit result and conclude a deal on national unity government formation in accordance with commitments they reached on July 12.
“Ban emphasises that this is a pivotal moment for Afghanistan, and genuine partnership will be required in tackling challenges. Both parties share a real responsibility to guide Afghanistan to a peaceful and more prosperous future. Given the scale of challenges, this can only be done jointly,” Ban’s spokesman said in a statement carried by Afghan Kharama Press.
It said, “Ban notes that in the agreement, reached with the support of US Secretary of State John Kerry, and their signed communique of August 8, the two candidates agreed to accept the result of a comprehensive nationwide audit of the presidential election run-off results and form a government of national unity.
“With the main audit completed on September 4 and the announcement of updated results anticipated shortly, Ban expects the candidates will abide by their commitments to enable Afghanistan’s first peaceful transfer of power.”
Presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah said on Monday that his team will not accept the result, accusing electoral bodies of being involved in fraud in favour of his rival Ashraf Ghani. Agencies
