Deputy Prime Minister meets UN Special Representative

KABUL, Oct. 23 – Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, met with Deborah Lions, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, at the Presidential Palace afternoon hours today.

Ms. Deborah Lance briefed on her upcoming visit to the United States and the United Nations activities in Afghanistan.

“We will work closely with the Islamic Emirate to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghans and resolve economic and banking problems,” she said.

The Deputy Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expressed determination to work closely with the international community, especially the United Nations adding that the Islamic Emirate would provide necessary facilities to the UN agencies in Afghanistan, including security, he also welcomed the positive and constructive advice of the UN agencies.

We also call on the United Nations and the international community to strengthen the new Afghan government, particularly the banking system, to increase our cooperation with the world, said the deputy PM.

The Deputy Minister of the Islamic Emirate also said that our priority is to ensure security and civil rights of every Afghan, and will not allow any group to use Afghan territory against the security of others. We also seek to prevent the cultivation, processing and trafficking of narcotics and urge the United Nations and the international community to provide appropriate alternatives for Afghan farmers.

In the end, Ms. Deborah Lance thanked for providing security to the United Nations offices in Afghanistan.