UN remains committed to supporting Afghanistan: official

The United Nations remains firmly committed to supporting Afghanistan and its people, said a senior visiting UN official.

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca, who concluded a four-day visit on Friday, said, "The UN stands ready to assist in any efforts to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process."

Jenca met with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and the recently appointed Afghan electoral commissioners, among others, according to a statement issued by UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Friday.

The UN official underlined the importance of regional cooperation to achieve durable peace and prosperity.

Jenca discussed the Afghan government's commitment to unity and reform, which has secured long-term support from international partners in security and development, according to the statement.

"This support provides important opportunities for ensuring that Afghanistan can move toward stability, accountability and greater self-reliance," Jenca was quoted as saying.

"The UN shares the hope for a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, and remains committed to supporting the government's progress to reduce poverty and improve the still vulnerable situation of Afghan women," he said.

Jenca also echoed the call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to make 2017 a year for peace and make full use of preventive diplomacy, the statement noted. Endit