Security Council approves 1-year extension for UN mission in Afghanistan

Recognizing that the United Nations must continue to play its central and impartial role in efforts to assist the Afghan people to consolidate peace and rebuild their country, the Security Council today decided to extend the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another 12 months.

Unanimously adopting a resolution to extend UNAMA through 28 March 2004, the Council also called on all Afghan parties to cooperate with the mission in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its staff throughout the country.

The Council's decision also stresses that the continued provision of focused recovery and reconstruction assistance could contribute significantly to the implementation of the Bonn Agreement - concluded by Afghan political leaders in December 2001 and aimed at establishing a representative government by 2004. To that end, the Council urged donors to coordinate closely with the UN's top envoy in the country, Lakhdar Brahimi, and the Transitional Administration, particularly through the Afghan Consultative Group Process.

In addition, the Council welcomed the recent report of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the recommendations contained therein, endorsing his proposal to establish an electoral unit within the Mission, and encouraging Member States to support the UN's electoral activities in Afghanistan.