Envoy Jawad Says Afghanistan Open to Un-run Vote (transcript)
AL HUNT: Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed to a runoff presidential election after the UN said the first vote was marred by widespread fraud.
With us now to discuss these developments is Afghanistans ambassador to the United States, and joining me is Bloomberg diplomatic correspondent Indira Lakshmanan. Ambassador Jawad, thank you so much for being with us.
Let me start by asking you for the sake of international credibility and credibility in Afghanistan, wouldnt it be better if the United Nations had overall supervision for these Nov. 7 elections rather than the Karzai-appointed Afghan election commission?
SAID JAWAD: The United Nations is taking a more prominent role in the election. They did play an important role in the election complaint commission.
HUNT: But Im talking about having overall charge of them – turning –
JAWAD: Well, theyre welcome if they want to do this. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, we will welcome their increased role and involvement. We – its to our best interest to have the second round of the election to be as transparent and as fair and democratic as possible.
HUNT: So even if they run it, that would be okay?
JAWAD: That would be okay. They have done it in the past.
HUNT: And let me – yes, they did in the first election. And there are also I think about a thousand polling places in areas largely controlled by the Taliban and the Afghan army said they really couldnt protect. And there were very few votes in there and some controversies. Should those be shut down for this election?
JAWAD: This is a very crucial question, yes. There are about 1,700 polling stations that were in the area where we had most of the security challenges.
If you close them down, then we would be depriving a large number of the Afghans, especially the Pashtuns in the southern Afghanistan, and this will not be a good message for the success of the elections and it will not be regarded a fair election. So we have to find ways to make sure that the votes of all Afghans, especially the south, are included in this process.
Will President Karzai accept serious anti-graft conditions attached to additional aid?
JAWAD: First, as far as the international aid is concerned, there is no allegation of any abuse or misuse of those funds. Most of the international assistance are channeled and implemented through their own government. Twenty percent of this money is coming to the Afghan government and we are ready to actually – to be accountable for that.
Yes, as far as the President Karzai decision to take tougher measures against corruption. We have heard the message of the international community and the message of the Afghan people. Part of the platform of President Karzai is when and if he is elected to take tougher measure against corruption and improved governance over all in Afghanistan.
LAKSHMANAN: Theres some talk that President Karzai might cut a power-sharing deal with his rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. Would that be a good idea to have a coalition government?
JAWAD: Well, historically coalition governments in Afghanistan has proven to be ineffective and unpopular. And on the current situation in Afghanistan, I think a coalition government is unnecessary because its widely believed that President Karzai will be winning this election.
But if President Karzai decides to include some member of the people who are running, who are supporting Dr. Abdullah, this is a possibility. President Karzai has done it in the past, but that will be after President Karzai is declared the winner in the second round. He may have a government of national – a government that includes actually many members of the different groups. But at this point, there is no discussion about the coalition government.
LAKSHMANAN: President Obama is debating with his advisers whether to have a more limited counter-terrorism military mission led by the U.S. or a more expanded counter insurgency mission. Would a middle course be a bad idea?