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UN names new envoy to Afghanistan in bid to fight Taliban

The Afghan government on Saturday welcomed Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide as the new UN envoy to Afghanistan, a role meant to better coordinate international efforts to bring development and head off a Taliban insurgency.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 14:48 March 8, 2008
  • Gulf News

Kabul: The Afghan government on Saturday welcomed Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide as the new UN envoy to Afghanistan, a role meant to better coordinate international efforts to bring development and head off a Taliban insurgency.

Eide's appointment, expected to be confirmed by the UN Security Council within the next week, brings to an end a struggle between the Afghan government and the United States and other powers that had wanted a heavyweight diplomat to boost coordination between UN and Nato forces fighting the Taliban.

Afghan presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said, "We look forward to working with Mr. Eide."

He added, "He has been the key person in the Norwegian government focusing on Afghanistan, so he has the knowledge of the country, he has the international experience and the backing of the United Nations and all the major players and the Afghan government supports his appointment," he said.

Eide was expected to be approved as envoy by the UN Security Council ahead of a meeting on Afghanistan in New York on March 12 and travel to the Afghan capital Kabul to take up the post shortly afterwards, a UN spokesman said.

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