Afghanistan diplomat says security agreement should be signed in 'timely manner'

UNITED NATIONS – The Afghan ambassador to the United Nations says he's certain a security agreement for a training and counterterrorism mission there after 2014 will be signed "in a timely manner."

The United States wants the Bilateral Security Agreement to be signed by the end of this year. The NATO mandate expires next year, and foreign forces must depart Afghanistan.

The deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council on Tuesday that "promptly" signing would be a signal to Afghans that "their concerns about the future will be addressed."

President Hamid Karzai has balked at signing, though a national assembly of 2,500 delegates has endorsed the deal.

Afghanistan Ambassador Zahir Tanin did not promise anything Tuesday.

The deputy UK ambassador says he wants it signed "without further delay."