History of Agency in the World and Iran

• The united Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a political mission, directed and supported by the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

• Its headquarters are in Kabul, with eight regional offices and ten provincial offices throughout Afghanistan. In addition, UNAMA has liaison offices in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Tehran, Iran.

• UNAMA’s mandate was established on 28 March 2002 through UNSC resolution 1401. On this day, the Tehran UNSMA (UN Special Mission to Afghanistan) liaison office, which had been established in May 2000, was renamed as the UNAMA liaison office in Iran.

• The mission is directed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan who also acts as the Head of UNAMA. As an integrated mission, UNAMA has two main pillars, one dealing with development issues, and the other handling political matters. These are headed by the SRSG’s two deputies.

• UNAMA’s key role is to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community.

• Together with the Government of Afghanistan the mission supports the rebuilding of the country and the strengthening of the foundations of peace and a constitutional democracy.

• The UNAMA mandate from 2008 to 2009 remained defined by the previous resolutions 1662 (2006) and 1746 (2007).

• The UNAMA office in Tehran was actively involved in preparations towards the Bonn Agreement (2001), the Emergency Loya Jirga (2002), the Constitutional Loya Jirga (2004), and the Presidential elections (2004). The implementation of the Afghanistan Compact (2006) and the Paris Declaration (2008), in particular the subject of regional cooperation, is the office’s current focus.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Activities of UNAMA are strictly limited to Afghanistan and include:

• Strengthening the cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF);

• Providing political outreach through a strengthened and expanded presence throughout the country;

• Providing good offices in support of Afghan-led reconciliation programmes;

• Supporting efforts to improve governance and the rule of law and to combat corruption;

• Playing a central coordinating role to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid;

• Monitoring the human rights situation of civilians and coordinating human rights protection;

• Supporting the electoral process through the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission;

• Supporting regional cooperation in working for a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Main projects/activities in Iran

• Ensuring regular dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran (especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) concerning the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan and regional cooperation;

• Acting as a conduit for information between UNAMA HQ and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and

• Serving in an advisory and liaison capacity to the diplomatic community and to the UN Agencies in Tehran with Afghan-related programmes.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 7967 E-mail: unama-iran@un.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 9187 website: www.unama-afg.org