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KABUL, AFGHNAISTAN – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry made the following statement today at a press conference with United Nations Special Representative to AfghanistanKai Eide, U.S Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan during which President Karzai announced he would accept a runoff in the disputed election: Full text as prepared is below: Thank you very much. I am honored to be here today for what I believe is an important moment for the future of Afghanistan. With the nation facing extraordinary challenges, a time of real uncertainty has been transformed into a time of great opportunity. I am especially pleased to stand with two friends, Kai Eide, whose diligence and persistence were critical throughout the election process, and President Hamid Karzai, who has shown genuine leadership with his decision today. In August, Afghans showed their commitment to a democratic future when millions cast their ballots -- many for the first time, often at great risk and sometimes paying a terrible price. The challenges of holding this election in an incredibly difficult security environment cannot be overstated. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who risked -- and in some cases sacrificed -- their lives so that others could exercise their rights. As one might expect in the midst of conflict, it was far from a perfect election -- but that does not in any way diminish the commitment and sacrifice that made this election possible. Since then, there has been no clear resolution, leaving many Afghans with legitimate doubts about the future. Today, President Karzai showed statesmanship by deciding to move forward, and to strengthen the country by embracing the Constitution and the rule of law. His agreement to hold the runoff will allow the national leadership to govern with legitimacy. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has made the same decision. Both have demonstrated their dedication to building a lasting democracy. Even as we recognize this occasion, we are all mindful of the difficult work ahead. The decisions made and actions taken over the next months will be what really give meaning to this moment. The future of Afghanistan will ultimately be determined byAfghans civiliansand throughgood governance--not soldiers or the international community. If this is to be a real turning point, we must strengthen the capacity of the government at every level to provide for its citizens. President Karzai has committed to pursuing reform wherever necessary to better meet their needs, and the United States and the international community must be true partners in this effort. Today, Afghanistan recommits to the democratic process with the understanding that the mark of any healthy democracy is a clear process with an uncertain outcome. I am grateful to President Karzai for his personal hospitality over these last five days, for the seriousness of purpose he brought to lengthy and sometimes difficult deliberations, and for his openness to ways of resolving differences. Now we commend a moment of promise for President Karzai, Dr. Abdullah and most importantly the Afghan people, who took a significant step towards the better future that we all hope to build. Thank you. # # #
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