The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 23 March 2011, realigning it to assist the Government in the transition to national leadership of the country’s recovery efforts, including by supporting the preparations for the conference to be held in Kabul later this year.

The following statement was issued on 20 March by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The following statement was issued on 20 March by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks to the General Assembly’s High-Level Interactive Dialogue on Water, in New York today, 22 March:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of Namibia’s independence and presidential inauguration, delivered by Kari Egge, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Namibia, on 21 March:

While improvements in Sierra Leone’s political climate were seen as inching the country towards eventual sustainable development, senior United Nations officials warned the Security Council today that the magnitude and political significance of youth unemployment posed a latent risk of instability in the West African nation struggling to consolidate peace and stimulate development.

Noting that the number of complex peacekeeping operations has increased in recent years, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations encouraged, in the final report of its 2010 substantive session, which concluded early Saturday morning, the continuation and finalization of the ongoing restructuring of peacekeeping at United Nations Headquarters and indicated that it intended to follow up on the steps already taken.

VIENNA, 22 March -- The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People at the United Nations Office at Vienna, on 24 and 25 March 2010.

Foreseeing new challenges in the equitable and peaceful management of shared water resources, officials today at a high-level interactive dialogue held to observe World Water Day urged that “bold” and “holistic” solutions be discussed to forestall pollution and water depletion, when the General Assembly meets for talks on the Millennium Development Goals in September.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development in New York today, 23 March: