EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Afghanistan

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia , the Countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

With the first ever successful holding of direct presidential elections, Afghanistan has taken another important step on the way to democracy. The success of the elections is a result of many factors and the hard work of a variety of different people and organizations. On behalf of the European Union, allow me to express our admiration of the Afghan people for their eagerness and resolve to cast their ballots. I would also like to reiterate our congratulations to those who were involved in organizing and securing these elections in very challenging circumstances, namely the Joint Electoral Management Body, UNAMA and international and national security forces.

The European Union now looks forward to the parliamentary and local elections scheduled for next spring and stands ready to assist the Afghan government and the UN to make these elections an equal success.

Notwithstanding this progress, many challenges remain. The security situation has deteriorated in many areas over the past year. Broad security threats caused by drug trafficking, factional fighting, banditry and terrorism not only significantly hamper the reconstruction process, they also continue to negatively impact the Bonn process. In his recent report, the Secretary General has emphasized that in order to ensure the successful holding of Parliamentary elections, progress needs to be made especially in the areas of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), counter-narcotics activities and security sector reform. The EU therefore welcomes the recent Security Council resolution 1563 (2004) with which the mandate for the International Security Assistance Force ISAF is extended.

The European Union is concerned that narcotics are becoming an increasing threat to national security, social development and governmental effectiveness in Afghanistan. Afghanistan produces 87% of world opium, a great part of which enters the EU. Opium cultivation has increased by 64% and production by 17% from 2003 to 2004. The money earned in the drug trade finances a growing and destabilizing criminal economy in Afghanistan. We urge the international community and the Afghan government to work together to tackle this problem which affects almost every aspect of Afghanistan's development and security. The National Drug Control Strategy and the Afghan Implementation Plan must be vigorously implemented.

While we welcome the progress already made in the area of DDR, the European Union is convinced that there remains a need to intensify the DDR process. In this regard, the European Union shares the assessment of the Secretary General that the issue of irregular militias needs to be addressed.

In order to ensure stability and security in Afghanistan in the future, the European Union also reiterates the importance for further progress, under the impulse of the lead nations, on all the items of security sector reform. Significant steps have been taken during the last year concerning the reconstitution of the Afghan National Army and Police and the reform of the justice system, but much more needs to be done.

The European Union remains concerned about continuing reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. It takes note of the report of the United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights in Afghanistan in which a number of priority issues for immediate action are identified. We welcome in this regard the commitment of the Afghan Government to implement the human rights provisions of the new Afghan constitution and to implement and report on ratified human rights treaties. In this context, the European Union attaches particular importance to the protection and promotion of women's rights and a better access of women to health and educational services.

Restoring overall security and establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan is impossible without the contribution of the neighboring countries. The EU stresses the importance of regional co-operation and encourages the further development of good neighborly relations, building on the basis of the 2002 Kabul declaration.

During the past years, the EU has supported the Afghan reconstruction process by providing substantial financial and technical aid. It has also provided humanitarian assistance where required, paying particular attention to those who need support most, such as returnees and displaced persons.

In this context, the EU would like to stress the continuing importance of donor-coordination in order to make the best use of resources.

Let me conclude, Mr. President, by stressing that the European Union remains committed in the long term to the reconstruction, development and stabilization of Afghanistan. The Berlin Workplan and its implementation by all parties must be the cornerstone of our engagement.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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