§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the(a) UN and (b) Afghan Transitional Authority to register the Afghan population for future democratic elections. [106678]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 2 April 2003]: The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been working closely with the Transitional Administration to develop a comprehensive programme of voter registration, on a country-wide and on a non-partisan basis, in anticipation of elections in 2004. UNAMA hopes to begin registration in August 2003, with a particular focus initially on rural areas where winter access would be more difficult.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1066W, on Afghanistan, whether the programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants in Afghanistan has begun. [106680]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 2 April 2003]: The programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants in Afghanistan has not yet begun. Details of the programme remain under discussion in Kabul.