UN General Assembly adopts resolution on Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution on Afghanistan to pledge its continued support to the government and people of the Asian country.

The resolution encourages all partners to constructively support the reform agenda of the Afghan government so as to secure a prosperous and democratic Afghanistan, focusing on the strengthening of democracy and governance.

It supports the continuing and growing ownership of reconstruction and development efforts by the Afghan government, and emphasizes the crucial need to achieve ownership and accountability in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities in order to use aid more effectively.

It emphasizes that threats to stability and development in Afghanistan and the region require closer and more coordinated cooperation as well as greater coherence and complementarity of approach between countries of the region and the international community.

The resolution reiterates serious concern about the security situation in Afghanistan and stresses the need to continue to address the threat posed by the region-based violent extremist and other illegal armed groups and criminals, as well as the presence of foreign terrorist fighters and terrorist organizations.

The resolution recognizes that an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process is essential for achieving long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan.

It welcomes the efforts of the Afghan government to begin direct negotiations within the framework of a comprehensive peace plan and calls on the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and without the threat of violence.

It emphasizes the importance of all parties in Afghanistan working together to achieve a unified, peaceful, democratic and prosperous future, and calls on the Afghan government to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good governance and accountability.

It emphasizes that the rule of law, human rights and good governance form the foundation for the achievement of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, and stresses the need to fully implement the human rights provisions of the Constitution, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women, children, persons with disabilities and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities of their human rights.

It welcomes the efforts of the Afghan government in fighting drug production in the country and encourages international and regional cooperation with Afghanistan in this regard.

It renews the commitment to long-term support for the economic development of Afghanistan and urgently appeals to all states, the UN system and international and nongovernmental organizations to continue to provide all possible and necessary assistance.

The resolution was adopted 137-0. Russia and Palau abstained.