Top UN official reiterates world body’s ‘absolute’ impartiality ahead of next week’s Afghan polls --- 27 March 2014 – A top United Nations official today reiterated the world body’s ‘absolute impartiality’ in Afghanistan’s Presidential and Provincial Council elections slated to be held next week. -- “The elections are Afghan-led and Afghan-owned; the United Nations does not favour any candidate over another,” said the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, during a brief media encounter in the capital, Kabul. -- Mr. Ladsous is on a three-day visit to Afghanistan, during which he is expected to meet a range of representatives from governmental bodies and civil society, as well officials from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other UN agencies, funds and programmes. He also represented UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at an official government ceremony commemorating the Afghan new year, Nowruz, in Kabul today, along with high-ranking government representatives from Afghanistan’s neighbours, including Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Azerbaijan. -- UNAMA is providing technical support to the Afghan authorities, at their request, in the organization of the 5 April elections, which UN officials have described as critical to Afghanistan’s future stability and continued international support. -- During today’s media encounter, Mr. Ladsous expressed the UN’s solidarity with the people of Afghanistan on the eve of elections and reiterated the commitment and long-term partnership of the world body in order to meet the current and future needs of Afghanistan and its people. --- The UN official asked the candidates to commit themselves to accept the results of elections once they have been delivered and endorsed by the Afghan election authorities. --- “Nowruz represents a new beginning. Let us take this opportunity to collectively reject violence and strengthen our resolve to continue the hard work towards peace, prosperity and human rights in Afghanistan and around the world,” said Secretary-General Ban, in a message brought by Mr. Ladsous for the occasion. -- Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and renewal of nature, celebrated on 21 March each year for over 3,000 years. The United Nations General Assembly, in 2010, proclaimed an official UN observance because it promotes peace and solidarity. The day also focuses on reconciliation and neighbourliness, contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among people and different communities. -- n his message, the Secretary-General also said that this year’s celebrations came on the eve of a critical moment in Afghanistan’s transition: the elections. -- “These elections are a critical benchmark in Afghanistan’s transition, and can be an achievement all Afghans can be proud of,” Mr. Ban said. “Like Nowruz, successful elections can reinforce a sense of community and national unity.” - More, UNAMA, at: http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12254&ctl=Details&mid=15756&ItemID=37820&language=en-US