DUSHANBE, January 24, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Speaking to reporters in Dushanbe after a meeting with President Rahmon, the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mr. Kai Eide, noted on January 24 that the United Nations is guarantor of holding of the 2009 presidential elections in Afghanistan.

According to him, a temporary further increase in the NATO troops in Afghanistan that is expected in the near future is aimed at helping Afghan authorities provide security during the presidential elections, which are supposed to be held in late 2009.

The NATO contingent is also to support rehabilitation of the Afghan national army, the UN envoy said.

RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan on January 22 cited Mr. Eide as saying, “We all know that the security situation is challenging and difficult in some provinces and in some districts. We have to be determined to proceed toward the election step by step, hoping that whenever the elections take place, they can take place in a fair and secure way. That is the UN role and that''s what we are doing.”