RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER TO CAPTURE IMAGES OF PEACE, PROGRESS IN AFGHANISTAN – UN

World-famous photographer Tim Page is joining the United Nations mission in Afghanistan to document efforts to shore up democracy and peacebuilding efforts in the South Asian nation.

Mr. Page, from the United Kingdom, will capture images of the final weeks before landmark presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August, as well as photographing the lead-up to the International Day of Peace on 21 September.

"One image is worth 1,000 words, or is it a billion pixels?" said Mr. Page, voicing hope that his work will have the same impact as images taken during elections in Cambodia in 1993 and Bosnia in 1998.

While in Afghanistan, the renowned shutterbug will also hold a series of master classes for young Afghan photographers.

"For me, the chance to mentor Afghan photojournalists is an awesome privilege, to promote their skills and passions," said Mr. Page, who snapped some of the most famous and enduring images during the Viet Nam War during the course of his nearly five-decade career.

The head of the UN mission, known as UNAMA, expressed optimism that the photographer will help raise awareness of the hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people ahead of the historic polls.

"Too often the images we see of Afghanistan are those of conflict and violence," said Kai Eide, who also serves as the Secretary-General's Special Representative. "Afghanistan has another story to tell. Few people have the opportunity to see the dignity and determination with which Afghan people live under the most challenging circumstances."

Recently, he told the UN News Centre that the upcoming elections are by far the most difficult and complex he has ever seen, illustrated by the use of over 3,000 donkeys to deliver ballot papers to the most remote regions.

Despite flaws in the process, the envoy said the campaigns were dignified and the political debate intense.
In addition, the "security organizations – the Afghan army, the Afghan police and ISAF – are doing their utmost with the Election Commission to identify and try to open as many as possible," said Mr. Eide.
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SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR FREE, FAIR AND SECURE AFGHAN POLLS NEXT MONTH

The Security Council today welcomed the Afghan-led preparations for next month's presidential and provincial council elections, and stressed the importance of "free, fair, transparent, credible, secure and inclusive" polls.

In a statement read out by Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, the 15-member body also called on the Afghan people "to exercise their vote in this historic opportunity for all Afghans to make their voices heard."

In addition, the Council stressed the importance of a secure environment for conducting elections, and condemned those who resort to violence to obstruct the electoral process.

While recognizing the ongoing efforts of the Afghan Government, it encouraged additional efforts by the authorities with the assistance of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to ensure security during the electoral period.

The presidential poll is scheduled to be held on 20 August, the date set by the country's Independent Electoral Commission.

Last month the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan told the Council that the August election is about more than choosing the country's leaders.

"It is about strengthening people's confidence in the democratic process, and about strengthening Afghanistan's institutions. It is not only about who will lead, but about the legitimacy of leadership," said Kai Eide, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

As part of its efforts to assist in the preparations for the polls, the Mission has issued a set of guidelines for the conduct of all those who are engaged in the elections – government officials, candidates, supporters, electoral officials and media and international representatives – related to the election campaign, the election day and the immediate post-election day process.

The UN has also been involved in the training of some 35,000 police officers ahead of the elections, and helped set up a toll-free election information hotline.
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