UN envoy in Afghanistan visits Iran to promote regional cooperation

The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan began a two-day visit to Iran today as part of an international effort to promote regional cooperation.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative Tom Koenigs is expected to meet in Tehran with the Iranian foreign and interior ministers as well as the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Economic Affairs and International Specialized Agencies Office and members of the UN Country Team.

The recently renewed mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) includes the promotion of confidence-building measures and cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours.

This is in line with the aims of the Afghanistan Compact, a blueprint drawn up in London earlier this year by donor countries that sets out a programme of action for the next five years.

Last week, Mr. Koenigs told reporters Afghanistan’s future was the future of the region and he called on the war-torn country and its neighbours to work together to promote tolerance and cooperation.