KABUL - Afghan political leaders and professionals joined with UN officials in Kabul to celebrate Afghans and the UN’s enduring partnership with Afghanistan on the occasion of the Organization’s 70th anniversary.

Speaking at the event, which included a photography exhibition of the work and achievements of a group of Afghan professionals, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Acting Foreign Minister Hakmat Karzai highlighted the unique association between Afghanistan and the UN.

Dr. Abdullah thanked the UN for working with Afghans through difficult years in the past decades, including during the recent earthquake. He said the UN has played an important role in facilitating the political process and coordinating efforts supporting humanitarian assistance and development.

Mr. Karzai said Afghanistan is proud to be part of the UN and thanked those who have served in the world body, both Afghans and non-Afghans. “Their efforts and sacrifice have contributed greatly to peace, security, development and human rights,” he said.

“The UN has been a long-standing, reliable partner of Afghanistan,” he stressed. “Even when others looked the other way, the UN was here standing ready to support and assist us.”

Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said Afghanistan has been a full and vibrant member of the UN community of nations and one of its earliest members.

“The UN has been in Afghanistan, partnering with its people, for 60 years, including the turbulent last 30 years,” he said. “We intend to stay for the next 60 years or to the extent that the Afghan people wish to continue partnering with the UN.”

The exhibition brought together a series of specially commissioned panoramic photographs featuring a group of Afghan professionals, women and men, who have been assisted by the UN and are making a difference in fields such as improved health care, support for returning refugees and environmental protection.

Mr. Haysom said the best way to mark the UN anniversary is to celebrate the achievements of Afghans, in particular a group of ordinary Afghans who are doing extraordinary work in human rights, the protection of women’s rights, the maintenance of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan and mine clearance.

“These individuals and the exhibition of photographs of their work traverse the full range of activities in which the UN would want to see its ideals expressed,” he said. “We understand and recognize that the UN’s ideals are best expressed through the work of Afghans and working with Afghans.”

Mr. Haysom affirmed that the UN “will walk the rest of the journey, hand-in-hand, with Afghans toward the realization of their aspirations for a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan.”

The nine panoramic photographs featured in the exhibition, along with the profiles of the outstanding professionals, are available on UNAfghanistan.org.

View a transcript of comments made by Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

View remarks of Hakmat Karzai, Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister.