Written question asked by Martin Caton (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 October 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 20 October 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for elections in Afghanistan.

Answer: Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the timetable is for elections in Afghanistan. [127138] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Under the Bonn Agreement, national elections are due to be held by June 2004. On 24 September in New York, President Karzai announced that the presidential elections will be held in June, in keeping with the Bonn Agreement, but that the parliamentary election will have to come later. However a firm timetable has yet to be agreed. Voter registration has already started under the auspices of the United Nations, with priority being given to remote areas that will be inaccessible during winter months. Registration is scheduled to conclude in May 2004. An Interim Electoral Commission and a Joint Electoral Management Body were appointed on 26 July to begin preparations for the 2004 ballot. The Interim Electoral Commission will hand over to an independent Electoral Commission before the ballot next year.

Secondary information