PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

                                                                  AFG/214

PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today's statement to the press on Afghanistan by the President of the Security Council, Alfonso Valdivieso (Colombia):

The Members of the Security Council recalled the signing in Bonn on

5 December 2001 of the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (the Bonn Agreement), and welcomed the progress made so far in its implementation.  The Members of the Council reiterated its full support for the Bonn process and stressed the significance of the establishment of the Interim Authority and Interim Administration, the convening of the Emergency Loya Jirga, the election of President Karzai as Head of State and the Establishment of the Afghan transitional Administration.

The Members of the Security Council reiterated its support for the efforts of the Afghan Transitional Administration to strengthen and promote stability, democracy and prosperity in Afghanistan.

The Members of the Security Council underlined the importance of the preparation of a new constitution, and the convening by June 2004 of free and fair elections through which a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative G

overnment can be established.

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