United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Afghanistan

2 Nov 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Afghanistan

KABUL - The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon arrived in Kabul today following the attack on a Kabul guesthouse last week in which five UN staff members were killed and others were injured.

دری و پشتو

Mr Ban will meet UN staff, his Special Representative and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Kai Eide, heads of UN agencies and security officials.

The Secretary-General will also meet Dr Abdullah Abdullah and President Hamid Karzai to assure them and the Afghan people of the continuing support of the United Nations towards the development of the country and the humanitarian assistance that the UN provides to millions of Afghans everyday.

Last week Mr Ban, in reaction to the attack on the Kabul guesthouse, told a press conference in New York: “Those who gave their lives ... came to Afghanistan armed not with guns or bullets. They came with a more powerful weapon – hope. Hope for a better day for Afghanistan and a commitment to help its people build a better world and a better future. We will not be deterred from this noble mission. We stand by the people of Afghanistan today, and we will do so tomorrow.”

Ban Ki-moon has previously visited Kabul in February 2009 and June 2007 as UN Secretary-General.