Tom Koenigs, the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, arrived in Kabul on February 16, 2006 to take up his posting as head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Mr. Koenigs, who participated in the recent London Conference on Afghanistan, began his official schedule immediately. Over the course of the next few days he will be meeting members of the Government of Afghanistan and the diplomatic community, and staff of UNAMA and other UN Agencies in Afghanistan, including in the provinces. One of Mr. Koenigs’ key roles will be to co-chair the soon-to-be-formed Joint Monitoring and Coordination Board, which will provide strategic coordination for implementation of the Afghanistan Compact.

Mr. Koenigs, whose appointment was announced by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in December 2005 succeeds Jean Arnault, who served as Special Representative between February 2004 and February 2006.

Kabul, 16 February 2006