6 April 2010 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, visited Mazar-i-Sharif today where he promised the continuation of United Nations assistance.

UNAMA Press Release - UNAMA Photos

Mr de Mistura first went to the famous Blue Mosque in Mazar where he was hosted by religious officials and visited the Mosque’s museum.

He then proceeded to the UNAMA offices in the city where he held meetings with staff and was briefed on UN activities in the north of Afghanistan.

Mr de Mistura met with Mohammad Noor Atta, the Governor of Balkh province before having a working lunch with the Governor and a press briefing with journalists.

“We are impressed by your achievements, and we would like to make them an example,” said Mr de Mistura.

“The United Nations has been here for many years, and will continue to support the Afghan people even when things will go better. We will make sure that the Northern Region will receive substantive aid, even if the security situation is far better than in other parts of the country,” he added.

During the meeting with UN staff the Special Representative encouraged all UN units to get closer to the local communities, to be present everywhere across the region and to continue to improve all programmes and activities.

“We have a strong office here. We will make it stronger,” he concluded.

UNAMA has provincial offices in Sar-i-Pul and Faryab, with a new office in Jawzjan to be opened in the near future.

Mr de Mistura arrived in Afghanistan as the UN’s top envoy on 13 March and last week he visited the UN’s Gardez operations in the east of Afghanistan.

By Alexandre Brecher-Dolivet, UNAMA