SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR CREDIBLE AND SECURE AFGHAN POLLS, EXTENDS UN MISSION

The Security Council today extended the United Nations presence in Afghanistan for another year, while recognizing the key role played by the world body in coordinating international efforts in the country and in supporting upcoming elections.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body renewed the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 23 March 2010, and decided that the Mission and the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Kai Eide, will continue to lead international civilian efforts in the country.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the renewal of UNAMA's mandate, and particularly the Council's reaffirmation of the UN's "central and impartial role" in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"The Secretary-General also warmly welcomes the Security Council's recognition of Mr. Eide's leadership, who working closely with Afghan political leaders, has led the efforts of the international community to set priorities and rationalize their assistance to Afghanistan," his spokesperson said in a statement.

These efforts include supporting the Government's efforts to improve governance and the rule of law and fight corruption, as well as facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

They also include supporting, at the request of the Afghan authorities, preparations for the 20 August presidential elections. The Council underscored the importance of the polls to the country's democratic development, and called for "all efforts to be made to ensure the credibility, safety and security of the elections."

Mr. Ban, in his latest report on Afghanistan, stated that the Government and people of the strife-torn nation, as well as their international partners, face a critical test with the holding of the elections this year.

The 20 August election date set by the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission is three months after the presidential term expires on 22 May. This has generated "constitutional uncertainty" over the President's legitimacy after 22 May, he noted.

"There is no higher responsibility in Afghanistan right now than that of the three branches of government to find a solution to the constitutional issue in a way that ensures the existence of a functioning Government between 22 May and the inauguration of the next presidential term," he stresses.

The elections are likely to feature prominently on the agendas of two upcoming meetings on Afghanistan – in Moscow on 27 March and in The Hague on 31 March.

Mr. Ban, who will be attending both meetings, said that he intends to press the international community to produce a clear, unified course for helping to bolster Afghan security, stability and development.

He will also stress the need to strengthen regional and international cooperation, he told an informal gathering of the General Assembly today.

The Secretary-General also briefed the Assembly on his participation at the upcoming G-20 Summit in London, stressing that the stakes at that meeting are large.

The UN chief said that he has sent a letter to all G-20 leaders, urging them to show leadership in four areas: providing a substantial and truly global stimulus package that also meets the needs of all developing countries; standing firm against protectionism; moving towards a "Green New Deal;" and reforming global rules and institutions.
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UN SPOTLIGHTS FIVE KEY AREAS TO SPUR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY

UN SPOTLIGHTS FIVE KEY AREAS TO SPUR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
New York, Mar 19 2009 10:00AM

Robust investment into five key sectors, from renewable energy to sustainable transport, could help revive the global economy and boost employment while accelerating the fight against climate change, environmental degradation and poverty, according to the United Nations.

The Policy Brief for a Global Green New Deal, developed by economists and the UN ahead of the G-20 meeting of world leaders in London in early April, highlights the benefits of investing a significant amount of the $3 trillion-worth of global stimulus packages in five areas.

According to a news release issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), these areas include raising the energy efficiency of old and new buildings, as well as renewable energies including wind, solar, geothermal and biomass.

The three other areas are sustainable transport including hybrid vehicles, high-speed rail and bus rapid transit systems; the planet's ecological infrastructure including freshwaters, forests, soils and coral reefs; and sustainable agriculture including organic production.

"The G-20 meeting needs to be a milestone in terms of focusing investments that address the crises of today and those emerging from climate change, natural resource scarcity and lack of decent employment for close to 2 billion unemployed or underemployed people over the coming decade," stated UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"Take energy use in buildings. It can already be cut by 80 per cent in a cost-effective manner using existing technologies," he noted, adding that additional investments in this sector would not only stimulate the recovery of the construction and allied industries but also generate tens of millions of jobs.

The report also calls for specific measures to help poorer countries reach the anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and green their economies. The measures include an expansion of microcredit schemes for clean energy and the greening of overseas development aid.

"The large-scale stimulus investments planned over the coming months and the next two to four years represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient society – this opportunity must not be lost," said Mr. Steiner.

Pavan Sukhdev, team leader of the UNEP Green Economy initiative, stressed that these recommendations should be discussed over the next few months by world leaders at every major global forum including the G-20 Summit.

"The sums of money being lined up to stimulate the global economy, unheard of only 12 months ago, will either mortgage the world's future based on a 'business as usual' model or deliver an opportunity to transition to a new and more sustainable path," he stated.

"That courageous choice needs to be made now and accelerated over the coming weeks and months," he added.
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