News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

KABUL - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Russian capital today ahead of the first of two conferences on Afghanistan that he will be attending in the next several days. Tomorrow’s conference, convened under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), will focus on the impact…

KABUL - Terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime are seriously impeding progress in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today, calling for greater international cooperation to help the country tackle these challenges. “They are obstacles to development,” Mr. Ban said in…

KABUL - This week the United Nations in Afghanistan is highlighting de-mining and mine awareness in the lead up to the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action marked every year on 4 April. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and more than…

30 March 2009 - Eighty countries and 20 international organizations are coming together in The Hague under the auspicious of the United Nations to discuss the future of Afghanistan. The United Nations, the Government of Afghanistan and the Netherlands will host the international conference on 31…

30 March 2009 - Afghan refugees seeking to return to their home country from north-west Pakistan will receive a boost when the United Nations resumes its voluntary repatriation programme this week. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) traditionally suspends its scheme during the winter…

KABUL - Afghan journalists have issued a declaration on Freedom of Expression in Afghanistan expressing their concerns and proposals for a free media in the country. A one day conference brought together journalists and editors, media and civil society organizations, representatives from the…

KABUL - Speech by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide at the Hague Conference. "The promising developments we see are results of hard work of competent Afghan officials. But they would not have been possible without a strong international presence - civilian…

31 March 2009 - Joint Press Release, International Conference on Afghanistan. Delegates at a meeting in The Hague agreed on Tuesday to a significant sharpening of rebuilding in Afghanistan, emphasizing the centrality of Afghan ownership and stepping up focus on implementation. A statement by the co…

KABUL - Of all the tragic stories surrounding de-mining in Afghanistan one sticks out for the people of Baghlan in the north east of the country when 15 children were injured after they tried to sell a piece of unexploded ordinance in exchange for ice cream. The May 2008 incident shocked the town of…

KABUL - Too much is at stake for Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections to be flawed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today, calling on the international community to support efforts to consolidate stability in the war-torn nation. “We know from experience that the second cycle of post…

1 April 2009 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today’s suicide attacks in southern Afghanistan, in which two people were reportedly killed and a large number of civilians injured, including one staff member serving with the United Nations mission in the country (UNAMA). Mr. Ban is…