United Nations, Mar 23 (UNI) The United Nations Security Council has renewed the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan for one more year so that the world body could continue to help the strife-torn nation as Kabul assumes greater responsibility for ensuring domestic security and development.
In a unanimous resolution adopted yesterday, the powerful 15-member body authorised the mission, known as United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to continue its activities until March 23, 2012, including in the fields of monitoring human rights, promoting good governance, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and assisting in the anti-corruption fight.
In his recent report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon restated UN support for the so-called “Kabul Process” that spells out a transition to greater Afghan responsibility and ownership, in both security and civilian areas.
“Our approach to the Kabul process and transition is based on three key principles: Transition must be Afghan-owned; it must be planned and implemented in a sustainable manner and it must ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of all Afghans,” the Secretary-General said in the report.
UNAMA has been in place since March 2002, when following the fall of the Taliban, the Bonn Agreement established an interim government and prescribed the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of elections.
Staffan de Mistura, Mr Ban’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said, “With its 30 agencies, funds and programmes providing aid in each one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the UN stands ready to support the country’s assumption of the lead role in all aspects of governance, development, and efforts to achieve peace.”
“The UN attaches great importance to its partnership with the government of Afghanistan, and its institutions, to manage a successful transition process,” he told a meeting of the Council.
“We believe that our long experience in the country positions us to serve as a partner to the government and the international community to support transition.”
–UNI