§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan of the time required to register voters in Afghanistan for democratic elections scheduled to take place in 2004. [121974]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAccording to the Bonn Agreement, elections must be held in Afghanistan by June 2004. The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) is working closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration to develop a programme of voter registration. The actual process of registration is scheduled to begin in August and run through the winter until March 2004. Subject to security constraints, rural areas, less accessible in winter, will be registered first938W followed then by urban areas. Registration will be non-compulsory and conducted individually, to ensure privacy. UNAMA expect to have a final voters list ready by May 2004.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds(a) have been provided and (b) have been pledged by (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) the international community to assist the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan Transitional Authority in registering voters in Afghanistan. [121975]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan have estimated that the elections and voter registration will cost about USS84 million. However, the UN have not yet formally issued a request for funding from donors. The UK Government and other donors will consider requests once they have been made.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the International Crisis Group report on the constitutional process in Afghanistan, published on 12 June. [121976]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe International Crisis Group report on the constitutional process in Afghanistan highlights a number of important issues that will affect the integrity of the constitutional process, including the importance of ensuring adequate security to allow the Afghan people to participate freely. However, the report contains several factual errors to which the United Nations has drawn attention, and inaccurately portrays both the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the international community as being insufficiently committed to the constitutional process. The British Government continues to support both the Afghan Transitional Administration and UNAMA in their efforts to support the constitution-making process, including by helping to fund the popular consultation on the constitution which is currently under way.