U.S. Ambassador James B. Cunningham Welcomes Agreement on Audit Criteria --- I welcome today's announcement by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) that the IEC has adopted the recount and invalidation criteria proposed by the United Nations and based on Afghan law and international best practices. The audit is an immense undertaking, requiring hard work and commitment from the many people involved. With the adoption of the invalidation criteria and the other efforts the IEC is making to improve the audit process, the audit must now move forward more quickly and efficiently. Both candidates should instruct their teams to participate fully and constructively in the audit when it resumes on August 2. -- Our goal remains for the audit to be completed and for the new President to be inaugurated by the end of August. That is ambitious, but the international community is supporting the process to the fullest extent. As Secretary Kerry said recently, "The time for politics is over. The time for cooperation is at hand." With cooperation among the campaigns, the international community and the Afghan authorities, this process can be concluded in a way that reflects the wishes and aspirations of the Afghan people. -- http://kabul.usembassy.gov/pr-07312014.html