25 January 2011 - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the understanding reached in the recent exchanges between the Office of the President of Afghanistan and the Afghan Parliament agreeing to the inauguration of the National Assembly on 26 January.

DARI - PASHTO

It further commends the spirit of cooperation between the Presidential Office and the recently elected members of Parliament. This paves the way for the Parliament to convene, in the presence of the President, and resume its important functions in the democratic governance of Afghanistan.

UNAMA and the international community have reviewed and taken note of the elements in both messages. They recall again the statement of the Security Council dated 22 December 2010 which recognized the separation of powers under the Constitution of Afghanistan and appeal to the relevant Afghan stakeholders to continue to ensure respect for those distinct institutions.

The United Nations also affirms the right of the judiciary to prosecute exclusively individual criminal cases pursuant to Afghan current applicable law without prejudice to due process and relevant immunities covered by Constitutional provisions.

This process has revealed that a healthy debate is underway amongst Afghanistan’s democratic institutions, an encouraging sign of a progressing democracy.

The international community shall remain closely seized of developments and looks forward to working in partnership with the Afghan authorities as the executive, legislature and judiciary carry out their respective functions, in accordance with the Constitution, in the months ahead.

UNAMA and other members of the international community plan to attend the inauguration of the National Assembly on 26 January.

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