November 29, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 23, 1423

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 28: Germany and Netherlands agreed to take over the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from Turkey, as the UN Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate for one more year (to Dec 20, 2003).

Saying that the situation in Afghanistan still constitutes a threat to global peace and security, the Security Council authorized ISAF to take “all necessary measures” to fulfil its mandate.

It also called on member states to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to the Force, and to make contributions to the Trust Fund established under a previous resolution that defined the Force’s authorization.

However, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Ravan Farhadi, expressed his disappointment at international community’s inability to increase the ISAF strength.

The Council also welcomed a letter from the Foreign Ministers of Germany and the Netherlands to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressing the willingness of their countries to jointly assume from Turkey the lead in commanding the Force.