国际英语新闻：UN extends assistance mission in Afghanistan for 12 more months

UNITED NATIONS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday renewed the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for one year, till March 23 of 2011.

Unanimously adopting the resolution, the 15-member body called on the United Nations to support the Afghan government's priorities on the issues of security, governance and economic development with the support of the international community.

The Security Council also underscored the importance of the upcoming national legislative elections in September, calling for efforts to ensure the credibility, safety, and security of the elections.

It also urged the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Afghan Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) to effectively discharge their functions in preparing and monitoring elections.

The Security Council encouraged the Afghan government to work together with UNAMA to ensure that the IEC and ECC are strong, independent and provide the proper checks and balances required by the Afghan constitution.

The UNAMA mission was established in March 2002 and its mandate has been extended several times. The mission's current mandate has such elements as providing political and strategic advice for the peace process, providing good offices, helping the government to implement the Afghanistan Compact, promoting human rights, providing technical assistance, and continuing to manage and coordinate all UN-led humanitarian relief, recovery and reconstruction in the country.