2 April 2011, Nairobi - The Secretary-General spoke by telephone today with H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General told President Karzai he was saddened and shocked by the attack on the UN offices in Mazar-e-Sharif, in which three UN staff and four UN security guards were killed and others wounded.

He thanked the President for his expression of condolence and for the support he is extending to his Special Representative, Staffan de Mistura, and to the UN family in Afghanistan to ensure the safety and security of UN staff.

The Secretary-General said he was dispatching his Chef de Cabinet and the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security to Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General told President Karzai he would continue to work with the Alliance of Civilizations to promote tolerance for all faiths.