KABUL - International support for Afghanistan was a major topic at meeting of the United Nations Security Council, held earlier this week to discuss the Secretary-General’s latest report on the country.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Ján Kubiš, briefed the Council meeting – held on 25 June at UN Headquarters in New York – on the latest developments on the ground via video-teleconference from the Afghan capital, Kabul.

At the meeting, Council members and other UN Member States took to the floor, with the country’s elections the main political topic of discussion.

In their remarks, the Member States’ representatives strongly emphasized international support for Afghanistan as it goes through its political, security and economic transition.

At the end of the meeting, a Council presidential statement was issued. It stated:

“The Security Council welcomes the holding of the second round of the Afghan presidential election on 14 June and reiterates the importance of these historic elections to Afghanistan’s transition and democratic development. It commends the participation and courage of the Afghan people to cast their ballot despite the threat and intimidation by the Taliban and other violent extremist and terrorist groups. It further commends the participation of Afghan women in the electoral process, and underlines the key role that they play in Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability.

“The Security Council notes positively the efforts of the Afghan people to prepare for and hold these elections, including security arrangements, and reiterates the important role of the Afghan electoral institutions, including the Independent Election Commission and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission. It calls upon Afghan electoral institutions to uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout this important and historic process, and emphasizes that all efforts must be made to ensure the integrity, neutrality and transparency of the electoral process, including the detection and prevention of fraud.

“The Security Council calls on all stakeholders to engage with the electoral institutions and processes with patience and respect, refrain from any acts that incite imminent violence, civil disorder or lead to instability, and to channel complaints through the established institutional mechanisms in line with Afghanistan’s electoral laws and constitution.

“The Security Council looks forward to the conclusion of the electoral process in accordance with the relevant laws and mandates of the electoral institutions and the orderly transition to a new administration and welcomes the ongoing support role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

“The Security Council calls on all political entities to work together in accordance with the Afghan Constitution, with the aim of strengthening Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity in order to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future for all the people of Afghanistan.

“The Security Council condemns the actions of those who attempted to disrupt the elections, such as terrorist attacks against civilians, including election personnel and candidates, as well as attacks against election infrastructure. It condemns violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country.

“The Security Council recognizes the sacrifices of the Afghan people and Afghan National Security Forces during the election period, and reiterates that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability.”

• The Secretary-General’s latest report on Afghanistan is available at: http://bit.ly/1j6Hhu1

• The Special Representative for Afghanistan’s briefing is available at: http://bit.ly/1pjVlIO (English), http://bit.ly/1jrdnAP (Dari) and http://bit.ly/1pVTVSu (Pashto)

• A report on the Council meeting is available at: http://bit.ly/UPs2jy

• The Security Council presidential statement is available at: http://bit.ly/1qAMBeh (English), http://bit.ly/1v8sap8 (Dari) and http://bit.ly/1mh1Fsq (Pashto)