Summary: July 19, 2002 : EU Statement delivered by Danish Presidency at Security Council open meeting on the situation in Afghanistan (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the associated countries Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, and the EFTA country Iceland belonging to the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.
Mr. President,
Let me start by expressing the gratitude of the European Union to Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi for his briefing today and for the outstanding work he has undertaken to promote a process of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes the outcome of the Emergency Loya Jirga and the election of the Head of State, Mr. Hamid Karzai. The Emergency Loya Jirga process, including the regional and district level elections, demonstrated eagerness for involvement in the democratisation process from Afghans across the country. We especially welcome that women represented a strong voice in the process.
The European Union strongly deplores the tragic assassination of the Vice President of the Transitional Government of Afghanistan, Haji Abdul Qadir, on 6 July 2002. We urge the transitional government of Afghanistan to conduct a thorough investigation of the assassination and call upon the Afghan people not to let this tragic event disrupt the restoration of Afghanistan or undermine the peace process.
While much has been achieved in the first six months since the Bonn meeting significant challenges remain.
One challenge relates to the lack of security, which continues to be a primary concern for both the Afghan people and international organisations working in Afghanistan. As a contribution to ensuring security, member states of the European Union continue to play a key role in the deployment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Another important challenge is making newly established institutions work in an efficient manner and to expand their influence to the provinces.
The Transitional Government of Afghanistan has the main responsibility for ensuring progress on these and many other important issues during the second stage of the Bonn Process. The European Union will continue its political and financial support to enable the Transitional Government to play this role.
The European Union has recently appointed Mr. Francesc Vendrell as the next EU Special Representative for Afghanistan to succeed Mr. Klaus-Peter Klaiber. Mr. Vendrell needs no introduction in this Council. His appointment is a sign of our sustained support for the political process and the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
The overall goal for the European Union's co-operation with Afghanistan is the full implementation of the Bonn Agreement. The end goal should be the establishment of a broad-based, gender sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative government.
Accepting human rights and rule-of-law as the guiding principles is a fundamental demand on any government. The Afghan parties have declared their intentions in this regard in the Bonn agreement, and Afghanistan has ratified the main international human rights instruments. The European Union has a long-term commitment to assist in the creation of an Afghan state that respects human rights, including women's rights and the rule-of-law. We support the efforts on the ground by the United Nations
High Representative for Human Rights.
The Bonn Agreement called on the international community and relevant agencies, especially the United Nations, to assist the Afghan Interim Administration and its successors in tackling the production and processing of drugs. The European Union welcomes the steps Afghanistan has taken so far in this respect, and remains committed to working with Afghanistan to combat this serious problem.
The next step in the Bonn Agreement is the establishment of the constitutional commission. The European Union calls on the Transitional Government of Afghanistan to give sufficient impetus to the work of the committee once established.
Work will soon be initiated on the preparations for the elections scheduled for 2004. While not mentioned in the Bonn Agreement, the EU considers it self-evident that the UN should be closely involved in this, as was the case with the Emergency Loya Jirga.
Mr. President,
The European Community and its member states are committed to delivering substantial contributions to the development of Afghanistan, more than 500 million euros have already been programmed for disbursement in 2002. The European Union will continue to remind international donors of the urgent need to deliver the development assistance already pledged. Very large sums have been paid out, but the needs may be larger this year than expected. The European Union will encourage the allocation of
development aid in a way that will strengthen the role of the central government, while at the same time ensuring that a visible peace dividend soon reaches the population as a whole.
The National Development Budget will soon be presented by the Afghan administration, and the European Union strongly encourages all donors to provide assistance within this framework. We note the serious lack of funds for recurrent costs this year and urge donors to consider ways of filling the gap, in particular by rapid disbursement of funds already pledged.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes the return of a large number of refugees to Afghanistan. At the same time, we are concerned that the returnees are not receiving the international support they need to ensure their sustainable re-integration. It is crucial for the international community to step up efforts, including supporting local communities. At the same time, the Afghan parties have to take their share of the responsibility to ensure that humanitarian support can be safely and effectively
delivered.
Mr. President,
Just over sixth months ago, the foundations of the transition process was laid in Bonn. A few months is not much after more than 23 years of warfare and strife, but events have proven that when the thirst for peace of the Afghan people is coupled with the resolve and convergence of neighbouring countries and other international partners, a lot can be achieved.
Despite the enormity and complexity of the challenges there is now, at last, a real chance for the Afghan people and the International Community to bring life back to normal in Afghanistan.
Thank you Mr. President.
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