Ottawa – Afghanistan’s independent Joint Electoral Management Body and the United Nations Special Mission in Kabul officially announced on Wednesday, November 3, that H.E. Hamid Karzai is the winner of Afghanistan’s first democratic presidential elections.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today offered his best wishes to the newly elected President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, on the outcome of Afghanistan's first-ever direct presidential election.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Karzai, the Afghanistan Transitional Authority and all of the Afghan people on the result of this historic vote," said Minister Pettigrew. "With participation by an impressive 70 percent of over 10 million registered voters, Afghans have demonstrated their determination to turn away from over 20 years of civil war and participate directly in the building of a democratic Afghanistan."