UNAMA - Kabul, May 1, 2006

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan, Tom Koenigs, is in Tehran today and tomorrow on a visit aimed at promoting regional cooperation. This is in line with the aims of the Afghanistan Compact.

UNAMA’s recently renewed mandate includes the promotion of confidence-building measures and cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours. Last week, Mr Koenigs told members of the press in Kabul that the future of Afghanistan is the future of the region, and called on Afghanistan and its neighbours to recognise the need to build trust and cooperation among them.

As of this morning the schedule for Mr Koenigs and his UNAMA team was still tentative, but included meetings with Foreign Minister Mottaki, Interior Minister Purmohammadi, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Economic Affairs and International Specialized Agencies office, the Deputy Minister of Economy, members of the UN Country Team and the diplomatic community.