20 October 2009
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the release of the official certified results by the Afghan Independent Election Commission:
"The Government of Canada acknowledges the final results released today by the Independent Election Commission for the 2009 Afghan Presidential Elections.
"We are pleased that both candidates recognized the need for a run-off election in the best interests of Afghan democracy. Canada has consistently stated that all parties must respect the Afghan electoral process and the Afghan constitution.
"While the first round of elections was not without controversy, it is important to remember how far Afghanistan has come since the fall of the Taliban regime. Our goal in Afghanistan is to help Afghans rebuild their country as a stable, democratic and self-sufficient society.
"Canada continues to lend our support as Afghans proceed into the second round of elections. This is an important step in the country's ongoing transition to democracy. It is particularly important that these elections are an Afghan-led process.
"We encourage the people of Afghanistan to actively participate and vote in this second round of elections. We continue to encourage the Afghan government and the IEC to set the necessary conditions for a secure, transparent and inclusive second round of elections."
