| Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC November 3, 2004 Afghanistan: Election of New PresidentOn November 3, the Joint Electoral Management Board in Kabul officially announced final results of October 9th’s historic election in Afghanistan. We congratulate President Hamid Karzai on his selection as Afghanistan’s first democratically elected national leader, and look forward to his inauguration next month. We congratulate the Afghan people on turning out in record numbers to choose their country's next head of state, and we congratulate the more than 100,000 Afghan election workers and friends of Afghanistan who made this election possible. Everyone involved has much to be proud of in bringing Afghanistan to this point, just three years after the end of a quarter-century of war and repression. This election is the latest milestone on the Afghan people's road to democratic government and a vibrant civil society. In late spring, they will take another major step towards institutionalizing democratic governance when they return to the polls to select members of parliament and local governments. The United States and the international community will continue to support them as they work toward this brighter future. 2004/1188
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