EU Presidency Statement - The Situation in Afghanistan

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia; the Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey; the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro; and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

The European Union is grateful for the opportunity today to review the outcomes of last week's conference in Berlin Afghanistan and the International Community - A Partnership for the Future, and to look forward to Afghanistan's development from this point on.

Since the Bonn agreement of December 2001 there have been many significant and positive developments in Afghanistan which have confirmed the resolve of the Afghan people to determine freely their own political future.

The Berlin conference held last week was a very clear demonstration of the unprecedented co-operation between the Transitional Administration, the UN and the international community in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. The work-plan presented by President Karzai in Berlin will ensure that a functioning democracy is the only way ahead for Afghanistan.

Mr. President,

The European Union greatly values the commitment of the United Nations and individual nations to assisting Afghanistan in reconstruction and security sector reform. The contribution made by non-governmental civil society and humanitarian organisations is also vital.

The European Union for its own part has been, and will continue to be, one of the major partners and donors backing Afghanistan's reconstruction. There is much that the European Union and its Member States are doing to help deliver these goals, and it would take too long to review all of these efforts this morning. However, it is worth noting, as an indication of our commitment to Afghanistan, that the combined contributions for 2004 from the European Commission and the Union's Member States total some €700 million.

Mr. President,

The provision of security remains absolutely critical to everything the Afghan Transitional Administration and its international partners are trying to achieve. The expansion of ISAF is a demonstration of the international community's commitment to Afghanistan and will play a key role in assisting the Transitional Administration in providing security for the electoral process. Individual EU Member States continue to make very significant commitments to providing for Afghanistan's security through participation in ISAF and Provincial Reconstruction Teams, as well as serving alongside their allies under Operation Enduring Freedom. The sacrifices that have been made, both by Afghans and non-Afghans, are not forgotten.

The people of Afghanistan, however, also experience insecurity as a result of weak rule of law; the absence of an effective national police force and army; and the spread of opium production, which fuels crime and corruption. Afghanistan's efforts, in partnership with lead nations, to address these issues must be supported by the entire international community.

Mr. President,

With the approval of the Constitution by the Constitutional Loya Jirga, the people of Afghanistan have taken the reins of their own political destiny. The men and women of Afghanistan, of whatever ethnic or regional identity, may now aspire to live in a society governed by the principles of freedom, justice and democracy.

The election and formation of a fully representative government should be a priority for all parties in Afghanistan. In this regard, the announcement by President Karzai in Berlin that direct presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in September of this year is a very positive development. The European Union will endeavour with UNAMA and the Afghan Transitional Administration to ensure that these elections can be held in accordance with the principles agreed at the 2001 Bonn Conference. Efforts to develop Afghan Civil Society and a free media are an important part of this undertaking.

The European Union firmly believes in the protection and promotion of human rights-especially in relation to women and children-and in this regard welcomes the Afghan Transitional Administration's commitment to meet its obligations under international human-rights law and the progress made to date. The European Union commends the work of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in carrying out its mandate despite the difficult environment in which it operates. It is important to ensure that the Commission remains independent, with proper financial and political support and with its mandate clearly articulated in law. The European Union urges the Afghan Transitional Administration and future governments to enable the full participation of women and girls in Afghanistan's civil, cultural, economic and political life, and we emphasise their responsibility to ensure the full implementation of the Constitution's provisions on human rights. The European Union will continue to encourage and support efforts in Afghanistan to promote a society where the human rights of all are fully respected.

Mr. President,

In the past two years, Afghanistan has made great progress. While many challenges remain to be overcome, and the complexity of these may seem daunting, the European Union believes that the people of Afghanistan have the courage and determination necessary to overcome them. They can rely on the support of the European Union, its Member States and the entire International Community.

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• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)