UN peacekeeping chief supports UNAMA's extension

With the mandate set to expire for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ( UNAMA) next week, UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said here Thursday that he supported the extension of the operations by another year with a possible "slight change" in mandate.

The Security Council gave "their unanimous support of the work of UNAMA in Afghanistan and support for the renewal for the mandate of UNAMA for 12 more months," Le Roy told reporters after he briefed the Security Council in an open meeting on Afghanistan here at the UN Headquarters in New York.

"Probably there will be some slight change in the mandate," he said, noting the March request by Afghan President Hamid Karzai enlisting UNAMA's help in logistical support for the next parliamentary elections, which are set for September.

"That is not forecasted in the present mandate so there will be an adjustment there," Le Roy said.

He also acknowledged 2009 as a "difficult" year for UNAMA, which suffered a series of blows to its leadership and morale.

Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide was replaced by as the head of UNAMA by Staffan de Mistura, an Italian-Swedish diplomat, after being accused of ignoring and trying to cover up fraud in August's presidential election by his deputy, Peter Galbraith.

"The election process was very hurtful for UNAMA, that's very clear," Le Roy said. "No one can dispute."

In his briefing to the 15-nation Council Thursday, Le Roy reiterated the international community's commitment to Afghanistan under an Afghan-led leadership.

"Concrete steps must be taken by the international community to allow Afghans to be in charge of, and lead, processes while providing the capacity-building and support required for Afghan institutions to take on this role, in civilian areas," Le Roy said.

With the September National Assembly elections, Le Roy highlighted this "milestone" on the common strategy in the transition towards Afghan leadership.

In Ban's latest report on Afghanistan, he recommended a renewal of UNAMA's mandate for another 12 months.

The Security Council is expected to vote new week on Ban's recommendation. UNAMA's mandate is set to expire March 23.

Source: Xinhua