Thank you very much, panel, Mr. Dewar.
With the prerogative of the chair, I would like to ask a question.
Just a number of days ago the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, presented a report to the Security Council entitled Report of the Secretary-General to the UN Security Council on the Situation in Afghanistan and its Implications for International Peace and Security.
In your panel's report, you recognized that issues of good governance are integral to achieving what we all want—a more secure, more stable, more democratic Afghanistan. But one of the observations of the Secretary General in his report was that
Preparations must begin immediately on voter registration and planning for the next elections. This requires decisions by the Afghan authorities on electoral dates and the adoption of electoral legislation. The international community will need to begin mobilizing funds to support these vital processes, especially that of voter registration, which must start in the summer of 2008 in order for elections to be held in 2009.
Can I ask you to look ahead and comment on how you would recommend that Canada assist in this crucial next stage, not just of elections, but also of the democratic process? In regard to Mr. Dewar's question on signature aid, and things like those as far as democracy is concerned, Mr. Martin brought out the four areas—the corrections, the judiciary, the police, the military—but beyond the military exercise, how can Canada effectively play a role in the democratic process going on in Afghanistan and really make a difference there in this area?