UN Mission in Afghanistan hails nomination of new unity cabinet

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday welcomed the nomination of ministers and senior officials as "an important milestone in implementing the agreement for a National Unity Government," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, told reporters here.

The nomination of the unity cabinet, which came after a wait of more than three months, is seen as part of a wider move by Afghanistan to bring together the country's political factions. The unity cabinet has yet to be approved by Wolesi Jirga, the National Assembly's Lower House, as prescribed by the country's constitution.

"The spirit of respectful collaboration demonstrated by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, and their teams, in agreeing these nominations is a welcome manifestation of their partnership and cooperation," Haq quoted the secretary-general's special representative, Nicholas Haysom, as saying.

"Given the many pressing issues facing Afghanistan, it is to be hoped that this process can be undertaken in a smooth and timely manner," Haysom said.

He reiterated that "the UN remains a committed and reliable partner of Afghanistan, and looks forward to working with all new ministers and officials in support of the Afghan government's work, " Haq said.

The Monday announcement of the unity cabinet nomination came amid a brutal upsurge in attacks throughout the country.

The year 2014 was the deadliest for Afghan civilians since 2009 and the UN mission in the country has documented a rising number of civilian casualties attributed, in a large part, to increased ground engagements and the increased use of improvised explosive devices -- both of which are killing and injuring more Afghan civilians than previously documented by UNAMA. Endite