SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SIGNING OF KABUL DECLARATION BY AFGHANISTAN

AND SIX NEIGHBOURS, HOPES IT WILL BOOST PEACE PROCESS

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of the Kabul Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations between Afghanistan and its six neighbours on 22 December.  He sincerely hopes that the Declaration will not only strengthen the peace process in Afghanistan but also promote political and economic progress in the entire region.  He calls on the signatories of the Kabul Declaration to do their utmost to respect the principles of territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and to work together to solve the problems of terrorism, political extremism and drug trafficking.

The Secretary-General extends his congratulations to President Karzai and his Government on this important day, as well as to the people of Afghanistan.  He expresses the hope that the Kabul Declaration will complement the Bonn Agreement to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for Afghanistan and its neighbours.  At the same time, the Secretary-General believes that much progress remains to be achieved in Afghanistan, particularly in improving the security situation, as has been demonstrated by a number of recent incidents throughout the country.

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