خبرونه - افغانستان

The new United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan, Jan Kubis, at a news conference in Kabul on Wednesday stressed that the peace talks should be led by Afghans.

Mr Kubis emphasised that peace talks could only be successful with the leadership of Afghans based on wide participation.

"What is important and I will repeat it all the time that it is and should an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process, because it's about the country and the people of the country and it can be a successful Afghan-led and Afghan owned process only if it's based on wide participation."

He said the United Nations and the international community will seriously support Afghans in the peace efforts.

The UN special envoy said that the peace efforts should be continued without damaging the achievements of the last ten years and added that the civil society's role in the process should not be ignored.

This is Mr Jan Kubis's first news conference since he took over as the UN special envoy to Afghanistan.

"I'm very happy to be here in a way the best mission possible because of the responsibility that is coming with this mission of the UN and Unama during this very responsible, crucial period in the life of the country," he said.

The Slovakian diplomat has replaced Sweden's Staffan de Mistura whose tenure expired in December.

Mr Kubis is a former Slovak foreign minister and recently held the post of chief of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

Jan Kubis, 59, is a former Slovakian foreign minister and also recently held the post of chief of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

Stefan De Mistura was appointed as UN representative in Afghanistan by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on January 2010 and held the position until December 2011. He replaced Kai Eide of Norway.