KABUL - United Nations' agencies working in Afghanistan would consider the Afghan government's priorities in carrying out their activities, a senior diplomat promised on Sunday.
Addressing a consultative meeting, the UN secretary-general's special representative acknowledged the world body previously performed its activities without the cooperation and consultation with the Afghan government.
"But from now on, the UN will perform its activities keeping in view Afghan government priorities," Jan Kubis said, hailing the organization's role in Afghanistan over the past decade as effective.

He promised all their actions would be in line with recommendations floated at the Kabul International Conference. "Our assistance will be based on what the Afghan government proposes and prioritizes."

He said today's gathering was aimed at discussing ways of boosting cooperation between UN agencies and the Afghan government. The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was supportive of security transition to Afghan forces, Kubis added.

The diplomat recalled the UN had extended assistance to Afghanistan at previous international conferences and would the same at the upcoming Chicago and Tokyo meetings.

His deputy, Michael Keating identified protecting future Afghan generations from conflict as one of their top priorities. The UN has 27 agencies working in Afghanistan in different fields.

The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, who acknowledged the UN task over the past decade as worth praising. He urged the world body to make efforts at further improving its work in Afghanistan.

Last year, President Hamid Karzai said his government would be well-advised in seeking clarifications about the activities of some UN agencies in Afghanistan.

Later in the year, the government announced a policy calling for a limited UNAMA role in the country, a proposal accepted by the United Nations Security Council.