HEAD OF UN AFGHANISTAN MISSION HOLDS CONSULTATIONS IN INDIA

Press Release
SG/SM/7383

HEAD OF UN AFGHANISTAN MISSION HOLDS CONSULTATIONS IN INDIA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Francesc Vendrell, Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary- General and head of the United Nations Special Mission in Afghanistan (UNSMA), visited India on 2 to 5 May for consultations on the Afghanistan issue. During the visit, he had extensive discussions with senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Prime Minister's Office. He also called on Jaswant Singh, the External Affairs Minister, and on Lalit Mansingh, the Foreign Secretary. Mr. Vendrell's visit is part of his regular process of consultations with countries in the region.

Following the conclusion of his visit to Delhi, Mr. Vendrell will represent the Secretary-General at the meeting in Jeddah of the Organization of the Islamic Conference contact group on Afghanistan with the Afghan parties from 7 to 11 May. He will subsequently visit Iran and will inaugurate on 14 May the liaison office of UNSMA in Tehran.

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