AFGHANISTAN / DE MISTURA ARRIVAL

The new UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, arrives in Kabul and reaffirms that organization's commitment to "assist with both the stability and social economic improvement" of the country. UNAMA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:26
• Production Date: 15 March 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE; ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: U100315c

Description

STORY: AFGHANISTAN / DE MISTURA ARRIVAL
TRT: 1:26
SOURCE: UNAMA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 MARCH 2010, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, plane arriving at Kabul airport
2. Various shots, new Special Representative for Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura meeting delegates at airport
3. Med shot, de Mistura walking over to media stakeout area at airport
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative for Afghanistan, United Nations:
“I am very honored, very honored indeed that the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has selected in consultation and with full support of the members of the Security Council and in consultation with the highest authorities of Afghanistan to lead the all UN activities and programmes in Afghanistan at a very crucial and particular period of Afghan history.”
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative for Afghanistan, United Nations:
“We will be doing what we can in order to assist with both the stability and the social economic improvement of the Afghan people remembering that it should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and in total respect of their sovereignty.”
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative for Afghanistan, United Nations:
“The Afghan people have suffered a lot; they have endured a lot in difficult times. They deserve the international support but they deserve above all a better future and the UN will do its part.”
9. Cutaway, journalists

Storyline

Staffan de Mistura, the new United Nations (UN) Special Representative for Afghanistan and the head of the UN Mission in the country, arrived in Kabul on Saturday (13 March).

At a media stakeout at the Kabul airport, he said that he was “very honored” to have this new appointment.

The Swedish-Italian diplomat – whose UN career adds up to nearly 40 years – had served with the UN Office of the Coordinator for Afghanistan from 1989 to 1991 as fundraising and external relations director.

“Whatever the United Nations will be doing in Afghanistan will be done to assist both the stability and socioeconomic improvement of the Afghan people, remembering it should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned, with total respect for their own sovereignty and independence,” added de Mistura.

Prior to his current appointment, de Mistura was the UN chief’s Special Representative for Iraq where, under his leadership, the UN mission helped oversee the successful elections and humanitarian assistance towards reconstruction and development.

He is taking over the top UN Afghanistan post from Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide who recently completed his two-year assignment as head of UNAMA.

He concluded the UN will do its part to assist the Afghan people who “deserve international support but especially a better future.”

UNAMA established in 2002, works to promote peace and stability in the country by leading the international community’s efforts in conjunction with the Government of Afghanistan to rebuild the country and strengthen the foundations of peace and Constitutional democracy.