UN’s Afghanistan envoy hails naming of new police officials as step towards stability

The senior United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has welcomed a Presidential decree confirming the appointment of 40 new police officials to the country's national force as a step towards stability.

“Strengthening the rule of law across Afghanistan needs to be a priority for all our efforts in 2007, reform of the Afghanistan National Police is central to this if we are to build a police force able to serve the people of Afghanistan with professionalism and integrity,” Tom Koenigs said in a statement released in Kabul on Saturday.

All of the officials had been selected based on “merit, integrity and experience,” he said, voicing confidence that “their skills, experience and commitment to public service will serve them well as they continue the work of cementing much needed peace and stability across Afghanistan.”

Mr. Koenigs heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), a political operation with some 1,000 personnel. The vast majority of those staff members – 80 per cent – are Afghan nationals, reflecting UNAMA's focus on building capacity within the country rather than hiring expatriates.