UN Will Approve Resolution on Its Presence in Afghanistan, Except Russia's Veto

The UN Security Council will vote on Thursday a resolution to ensure the future United Nations presence in Afghanistan, unless Russia, which this week prevented the negotiations, goes to the measure.

The draft text submitted by Norway changes the UN's relations with Kabul following the coming to power of the Taliban, whose government has not been recognized by the international community and those who have not appointed a representative to the world body.

According to a diplomatic source, Moscow on Wednesday opposed the draft of a new mandate for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), noting that it lacks the “agreement of the de facto authorities”, that is, the Taliban.

Moscow had presented an initial obstruction on Tuesday by claiming, as did China, that human rights were given too much emphasis in the text, a diplomat who asked for anonymity told AFP. India, Brazil and France also called for modifications.

The proposal was modified to incorporate concerns, but Russia remained the only country in the Security Council to oppose it.

The text “does not reflect our position,” the alternate ambassador of Russia, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told AFP, without stating whether his country would veto it in the vote scheduled for 10:00 (14:00 GMT).

The divisions that existed before “have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine” and now affect many other issues at the UN, an ambassador told AFP.

The “division” between the West and Russia “is such that it is difficult to reach any consensus” in the Security Council, the ambassador added.

The Norwegian proposal would extend UNAMA's mandate for another year, until 17 March 2023.

It called for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population, which faced harsh economic conditions and a complex security situation that seemed to be on track to stabilize.

The text calls on UNAMA to seek dialogue with political forces, “with a view to promoting an inclusive, representative, participatory and responsive government at the national and subnational levels, without discrimination based on gender, religion or ethnicity”.

It should also seek the full participation of women in the life of the country, despite the fact that the Taliban have marginalized them from the government.

prh-mlm/to/je/mas/zm