MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia will provide an additional $2 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to further support preparations for Afghanistan's presidential elections planned for October this year.
The UNDP is coordinating the electoral process in partnership with the Afghan Transitional Administration.
This follows an allocation of $2 million in February this year to support UNDP to undertake voter registration among Afghanistan's estimated 9.3 million voters and brings Australia's total contribution towards the electoral process in Afghanistan to $4 million.
Australia's total assistance to Afghanistan since September 2001 stands at $110 million, making it Australia's third largest humanitarian effort, exceeded only by East Timor and Iraq.
This funding will assist Afghan electoral authorities with election and resource management, arrange for out of country voting, provide information and civic education to voters, assist with media monitoring and coordinate domestic and international election observers.
The presidential elections will be followed by parliamentary elections planned for April 2005. The Afghan Transitional Administration will continue to govern until the elections are held.
Australia is committed to helping Afghanistan build a new and brighter future. Successful presidential elections are a crucial step in Afghanistan's transition towards a peaceful and democratic nation.
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Minister's Office) 0419 206 890
Dominic Morice (AusAID) 02 6206 4220 or 0417 683 126