ASTANA – Kazakhstan welcomed the official announcement of the final results of the presidential election in Afghanistan by the country’s Independent Election Commission, according to which Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was elected president and Abdullah Abdullah named head of the country’s executive body.
“The election marked the first peaceful transfer of power in the country and is an important step towards establishing an independent Afghanistan as a state developing in line with the principles of democracy,” Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Sept. 22 statement.
“We share the international community’s appreciation of the decision of the Afghan people to move forward and build a stable state and society despite the political and economic difficulties,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“We appreciate the aspiration of the Afghan people to restore their statehood despite threats to the security of the country and to the lives of many Afghans,” the statement continued. “We hope that the national unity government will use the mandate issued by the Afghan people to implement major reforms aimed at improving the well-being of Afghanistan’s citizens, and that the president of the country will be the guarantor of the constitution for the benefit of all Afghans who stand for building peace and social progress.”
According to the statement, “The Republic of Kazakhstan has repeatedly reaffirmed its position, which reflects our support for a peaceful environment for a broad national dialogue for reconciliation, establishing a permanent negotiating process between different political forces and public organisations in Afghanistan.”
“Kazakhstan, as a neighbouring country and a responsible international partner, is interested in the development of Afghanistan as a friendly and steadily developing peaceful state, for the sake of cooperation and the prosperity of the entire region,” the statement concluded.
