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Afghanistan's peace process can be successful only if it's Afghan-led: New UN envoy
New York, January 26, 2012
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Afghanistan’s peace process can only be successful if it is Afghan-led and inclusive, the new United Nations envoy to the country stated on Wednesday.
Ján Kubiš, who arrived in Kabul last week to take up his post as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told his first press conference that the Afghan people are tired of war and want to move on.
“They would like to live normal lives as everywhere else,” a UN press release quoted him as saying. He said there is support for steps that would bring more stability and eventually establish overall peace in the country.
What is important, he stressed, is that the peace process be an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.
“And it can be a successful Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process if it is based on wide participation, on representative participation, not only of political forces but eventually of civil society because it is for the people of the country,” said Mr. Kubiš.
He added that, in carrying out his mandate, he intended to focus on how to help link security and development; to promote and assist an Afghan-led inclusive reconciliation process based on dialogue and consensus; and to promote the rule of law, good governance, strong institutions and human rights.
The UN is currently examining how it can best help Afghanistan as it proceeds with the transfer of security responsibilities and takes greater ownership of its development, the release added.
NNN
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