UNITED NATIONS, March 30: The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously voted to establish a UN assistance mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), endorsing the mandate and structure laid out earlier this month by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Set up for an initial 12-month period that began on Friday, the mission would fulfil all tasks — including those related to human rights, the rule of law, and gender issues — that were entrusted to the UN under last year’s Bonn Agreement, which paved the way for the country’s political transition.

The UNAMA would also promote national reconciliation throughout the country, while managing all UN humanitarian activities there in coordination with the Afghan interim authority and successor administrations.

The mission will be composed of two “pillars” — one for political affairs, and the other for relief, recovery and reconstruction.

In Friday’s resolution, the Council reaffirmed its support for Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi.

The Council called on all Afghan parties to cooperate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its staff throughout the country.