OSCE Chairman-in-Office congratulates Afghan President Hamid Karzai

SOFIA, 3 November 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy congratulated Hamid Karzai on his victory in Afghanistan's presidential elections.

"The Bulgarian OSCE Chairmanship regards the electoral success of Mr. Karzai as an unequivocal expression of the will of the Afghan people for stability, democracy and progress. The October 9 presidential election marked a major turning point for the country and the entire Central Asian region," the CiO said.

"The OSCE notes with satisfaction that its Election Support Team assisted in the election process and helped the Afghan people to achieve their aspiration to choose their President and Vice-Presidents in a free and fair manner. This was the first-ever out-of-area mission of the OSCE which opens new horizons for the Organization in the decades to come," he added.

"We condemn the subversive acts of isolated armed supporters of the previous regime, such as the recent deplorable abduction of three UN poll officials, but the militants will not be able to divert Afghanistan from the course of historic changes," Minister Passy said.

"I wish President Hamid Karzai every success in performing his duties for the benefit of the Afghan people. The OSCE is keen to expand co-operation with Afghanistan and to contribute to its steady progress towards democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights".