Ban arrives in Kabul to express solidarity with UN staff after deadly attack

United Nations, New York, 2 November 2009 - The Secretary-General made a previously unannounced visit to Kabul today, following the attack on a Kabul guesthouse last week in which five UN staff members were killed and others were injured. He met with UN staff, Special Representative Kai Eide, heads of UN agencies and security officials. Speaking to reporters, he asserted his appreciation for the work of UN staff in Afghanistan. He added, "My main goal this time was to insist that everything be done to ensure the security of all staff, Afghan and internationals. We have suffered a grievous attack but our work will continue". The Secretary-General said, despite speculation whether the United Nations would pull out of Afghanistan or Pakistan, that "we will not be deterred". He also met today with Dr Abdullah Abdullah and President Hamid Karzai to assure them and the Afghan people of the continuing support of the United Nations towards the development of the country and the humanitarian assistance that the UN provides to millions of Afghans everyday. And he noted that President Karzai assured him once more that security for the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) will be strengthened. He also issued a statement from Kabul responding to today's decision by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission to forego a run-off vote and to declare Hamid Karzai as the winner of the 2009 presidential elections. He said that Afghanistan now faces significant challenges and the new President must move swiftly to form a Government that is able to command the support of both the Afghan people and the international community. Prior to arriving in Afghanistan, the Secretary-General had met with in Dubai with some of the staff members who were injured in last weeks attack in Kabul. The Secretary-General had a warm and frank discussion with more than a dozen staff who have suffered from trauma after the attack. Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security Gregory Starr accompanied the Secretary-General to Dubai and is staying on in the region to examine safety and security issues in a more concrete way. New story: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp...