KABUL (PAN): The head of the European Unions Election Observation Mission Phillipe Morillon on Wednesday called on President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace and discussed with him the August simultaneous presidential and provincial elections, the Karzai office said Wednesday.
During the meeting, Morillon assured Karzai of their all-out efforts and neutrality to ensure fair and transparent elections due on August 20.
The EU mission is mandated to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process and to observe the extent to which the election complies with international standards, as well as domestic laws.
General Morillon informed the president about deployment of the observers in key provinces. The EU observers would make all-out efforts to hold the elections in a transparent way, he added.
The head of the European Unions Election Observation Mission also praised the Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (AIEC) and the government for cooperation and facilities to the observers.
Speaking on the occasion, Hamid Karzai hailed the efforts of EU observers, saying his government would extend all possible support to the EU mission in holding the elections free and transparent.
37 are in the run for the presidency and 3300 for provincial councils seats in the August 20 polls.
