KABUL - In the first of a series of three meetings to examine the role of United Nations entities in Afghanistan, senior government and UN officials, along with representatives from the international donor community, met in Kabul on Tuesday.

This exercise was requested in Security Council Resolution 2210 of 16 March 2015, which renewed the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), a statement from the UNAMA said.

Participants at today’s meeting, co-chaired by Salahuddin Rabbani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, agreed the procedures to conduct the inquiry in line with the principles of Afghan national sovereignty, national leadership and national ownership. The three parties committed to a productive exercise and a positive outcome.

"We must ensure that UNAMA’s mandate remains in line with the goals of the Transformation Decade,” said Rabbani. “In doing so, we would also like to emphasize the concept of the ‘One UN’ approach to the activities and engagement of the UN in Afghanistan, to achieve greater integration and coordination."

Haysom affirmed that the UN welcomed this examination undertaken on behalf of the Secretary-General. “The United Nations has been in Afghanistan for more than 50 years, and is committed to improving the lives of Afghans,” he said.

“We have made significant strides in focusing our contribution in areas where we bring the most value,” said Haysom, who is also head of UNAMA. “This process will help us ensure that our involvement is even more focused and effective, and aligned with Afghan priorities. Above all, our engagement in Afghanistan must serve to maximize the international community’s focus on and support for Afghanistan.”

A report detailing the result of this examination process will be presented to the Security Council through the Secretary-General ahead of its September debate on Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)