Solana in Afghanistan
July 22, 2009
In Afghanistan, Solana met with the head of the European Union election observation mission, Philippe Morillon. Elections are set to take place on August 20 and Solana made a point to meet with some of the candidates in Kabul.
Speaking to reporters after his talks, he emphasized that the outcome of the election belonged to the voters of Afghanistan and not to the EU.
"I think it's important to meet with some of them, to pass on a clear message that the future president of your country will be the one you decide. Not the one I decide to talk to, but the one that you decide in elections that I hope will be acceptable by the international community, by you."
The EU is planning to send about 100 observers to monitor the Afghan elections.
An upsurge in violence
Solana's visit came on the same day as coordinated suicide bomb attacks against government buildings in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five Afghan security forces. The Taliban suicide bombers were mostly dressed as women, hiding suicide vests and rifles underneath their burkas.
Despite the increase in violence, Solana said the elections must take place as scheduled.
"So we're talking about a country which has problems with security that has a democratically elected president and a constitution that compels every five years to produce elections for the president," he said. "We think it's good to respect the constitution, even in the difficult circumstances in which the elections are going to take place."
hf/AFP/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Neil King