Afghanistan Tops Agenda of UN Chief’s Visit to Portugal

Afghanistan Tops Agenda of UN Chief’s Visit to Portugal

New York, Nov 18 2010 7:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, this weekend to attend a high-level meeting on Afghanistan held under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Mr. Ban will also hold a number of bilateral meetings with world leaders gathered in Lisbon, according to his spokesperson.

Among them will be Afghan President Hamid Karzai, with whom the Secretary-General will discuss the situation in the country and the UN’s efforts there, as well as other key issues.

In his latest report on Afghanistan, which was issued in September, Mr. Ban warned that much of the progress achieved in recent months is fragile and continues to be overshadowed by the deterioration in the security situation

He added that maintaining focus and momentum on the transition to Afghan leadership, amid rising security challenges and competing domestic, regional and international political pressures, will require sustained Government attention and the support of international partners. Nov 18 2010 7:10PM

ENDS

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