Security Council team slated to visit Afghanistan to review the country’s progress

The Security Council today provided details of its mission later this month to Afghanistan, where it will reaffirm support for the Government and its people as they rebuild their strife-ridden country.

Security Council President Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, which holds the rotating presidency for this month, told Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a letter that the members of the mission will travel to Afghanistan, visiting the capital Kabul from 24 to 27 November.

The mission, led by Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata of Italy, will review the humanitarian situation – including food security – and its implications for the country’s general security and stability.

It will also assess the cooperation and mutual support between the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), including collaboration on humanitarian and human rights issues, and in supporting the electoral process.

The Council said that the mission will, “review efforts by the Afghan authorities, with the assistance of the international community, to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the narcotics trade and in the diversion of chemical precursors.”