NEW YORK - The following Security Council press statement on Afghanistan was read out today by Council President U. Joy Ogwu ( Nigeria):

The members of the Security Council heard a briefing from the Secretary-General on his visit to Afghanistan for the Kabul International Conference.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan, co-chaired by President [Hamid] Karzai and the United Nations Secretary-General, on 20 July 2010.

The members of the Council congratulated the Government of Afghanistan on the organization of the Conference, which brought together representatives of more than 60 countries, international and regional organizations and financial institutions to discuss Afghanistan’s development, governance and stability.

The members of the Council welcomed the Kabul Conference communiqué, which recognized the Conference as an important milestone in the “Kabul Process”.  The members of the Council supported this Afghan-led process, which aims to accelerate Afghan leadership and ownership, strengthen international partnership and regional cooperation, improve Afghanistan’s governance, enhance the capabilities of its security forces, deliver economic growth and provide better protection for the rights of all its citizens.

The members of the Council welcomed the commitments made by the Afghan Government, including the development of a framework, timelines and benchmarks for the new national priority programmes, progress towards transition to an Afghan security lead, improvement of governance and tackling of corruption.  The members of the Council looked forward to the timely implementation of these commitments and called upon the international community to provide assistance to support the Kabul Process, in greater alignment with Afghan priorities.

The members of the Council reiterated their condemnation of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country, and reasserted that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards peace, democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

The members of the Council took note of Afghan Government’s Peace and Reintegration Programme and emphasized that this Programme is open to those members of the armed opposition who renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist organizations, respect the Constitution and are willing to join in building a peaceful Afghanistan.

While confirming the need for a full implementation of the United Nations Security Council sanctions regime, the members of the Council in this context acknowledged the intention of the Afghan Government to engage with the Council and the international community in an evidence- based and transparent process of delisting from the United Nations Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) sanctions list, in accordance with agreed procedures and common Afghan and international responsibilities.

The members of the Security Council acknowledging that narcotics are a global challenge welcomed the intention stated by the Conference participants to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter illegal production, trafficking and consumption of drugs from Afghanistan and to fight the illicit drugs trade by supporting the Afghan Government’s initiatives and policies in this regard, including increase in the number of poppy-free provinces.

The members of the Council underlined the leading role of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in the coordination of the international civilian efforts in Afghanistan.  They expressed their support for the leadership shown by the Secretary General’s Special Representative, Staffan de Mistura, and the work of UNAMA staff.

The members of the Council looked forward to free, fair transparent and open legislative elections in September 2010.