Norway to provide financial support for Afghanistan election

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Photo by Berit Hessen.

Norway will provide financial support for the Afghanistan presidential election to ensure there is a larger degree of independence, reports the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Norwegian contribution will be about 10.3 million dollars (70 million NOK). It will be coordinated by the U.N., and will among other things, be used toward setting up an independent election commission and an independent complaints commission. The Afghanistan presidential election is to be held on Aug. 20.

“It is important the election be carried out in a way that ensures the broadest possible participation,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Norway, which has 580 troops in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, is also a big contributor to the rebuilding process of the war-battered country, reports chinaview.cn.

Source: Regjeringen.no