Afghan Government and international community reaffirm commitment to the 'Kabul Process'

26 Jul 2011

Afghan Government and international community reaffirm commitment to the 'Kabul Process'

KABUL - The Government of Afghanistan and the international community today concluded a series of meetings which reaffirmed their commitment to the “Kabul process.”

Of the 22 National Priority Programmes developed by the Government of Afghanistan over the last 18 months, seven were put forward for endorsement at the next Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board.

There was strong consensus that the National Priority Programmes provide a broad-basis for true sustainability and bring tangible benefits to Afghan people across the country.

Michael Keating, the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, said: “Transition will only succeed with adequate investment in development, governance and the rule of law. The momentum around transition must be captured to fast-forward efforts to strengthen Afghan institutional capacity, especially at the provincial level.”

The United Nations welcomed the participation of civil society representatives. The United Nations is committed to continue its support for the “Kabul process” through its coordination role and engagement with Afghan Government Ministries and donors in direct support of the implementation of the National Priority Programmes.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Afghan Government and the international community agreed to establish a Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) for overall strategic coordination of the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact at the London Conference (January 2006) and the following United Nations Security Council Resolution No.1659.

In June 2010 President Karzai and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon co-chaired the Kabul Conference which marked a new phase in the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community. The Kabul Conference endorsed 22 National Priority Programmes and furthered the “Kabul Processindicating a heightened commitment to a secure, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan.

The Standing Committee meetings of 25 and 26 July 2011 carry forward this “Kabul Process,” with the seven programmes put forward for endorsement.

Please refer to the Kabul Conference Communiqué: http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Documents/Kabul%20Conference%20Communique.pdf

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Kabul, Afghanistan

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