Sumario: EU Presidency Statement - Situation in Afghanistan (29 November 2005: New York)
EU Presidency Statement on the Situation in Afghanistan by the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations on behalf of the European Union, General Assembly, New York
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
Building on the success of the 2004 presidential elections, the 18 September Parliamentary and Provincial elections represent a significant achievement and important milestone for Afghanistan. They mark another step on the road to stability, security and prosperity for the Afghan people. The successful holding of these complex and challenging elections was testimony to the hard work of many people and organisations, both Afghan and international. On behalf of the European Union I would like to
express our admiration for the Afghan people, who demonstrated their resolve by exercising their right to vote. I would also like to recognise the leading role played by the United Nations and UNAMA in leading Afghanistan to where it is today. In doing so, I reiterate our gratitude to all the organisations involved in making these elections possible, including the Joint Electoral Management Board, UNAMA, UNDP and the Afghan and international security forces. For its part, the European Union
contributed considerably with its EU Election Observer Mission, as well as with the provision of technical support and over $60 million in financial assistance. We also welcome NATO's ongoing contribution to achieving security throughout the country. Many EU member states contribute to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and run Provincial Reconstruction Teams throughout the country.
Mr President,
While much has been achieved in Afghanistan, particularly over the last year, we must not be complacent. Many challenges lie ahead. The international community must maintain, and indeed strengthen, its sustainable engagement in Afghanistan to support Afghan ownership and enhance capacity-building in order to make a success of the next phase of reform. The London Conference, to be co-hosted by the UK, Government of Afghanistan and the UN at the end of January, will provide a platform to
reiterate the international community's long-term commitment to Afghanistan's reconstruction. The Conference aims to agree a new Compact between the Afghan government and the international community which will be based on Afghan ownership and help deliver the kind of international donor support needed in the next phase of reform. The Conference will also allow Afghanistan to set out its plans and priorities, as envisaged in the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy.
The European Union's commitment to Afghanistan is outlined in the European Union / Afghanistan Joint Declaration signed in Strasbourg on 16 November. In this document, the European Union welcomed the huge strides made by Afghanistan since the Bonn Agreement in 2001 and highlighted the EU and its Member States' leading roles in assisting Afghanistan in implementing its reconstruction plans, pledging a total of E3.1 billion in aid over the period from 2002 until 2006. The Joint Declaration
demonstrates our desire to build on the success of the Bonn Agreement and to establish shared priorities for the next phase in Afghanistan's reconstruction. It will now form the basis for strengthening the EU-Afghan Partnership across a wide range of areas including political and economic governance, security sector reform and justice sector reform, counter-narcotics, development, human rights, civil society and refugee return, education and culture.
Mr President,
The European Union welcomes the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1623 (2005) on 13 September, renewing the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Significant progress has also been made on Security Sector Reform. Over 79,000 military and police personnel have been trained and the Afghan army is more professional, accountable and ethnically balanced. The EU reiterates the need for further progress on security sector reform.
On justice sector reform, progress has been made with respect to the adoption of essential legislation, training of personnel and the rehabilitation of physical infrastructure, including courts and correctional facilities. At the same time, improving the rule of law and consolidating a fair and impartial administration of justice remain crucial for the creation of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, and as such require sustained and co-ordinated action and investment.
The European Union also welcomes the progress made in the area of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Rehabilitation (DDR), with over 60,000 men having entered the DDR process. However significant challenges lie ahead as the focus now shifts to disarming illegal armed groups. The European Union supports the new UN/Government of Afghanistan programme, which is currently in its pilot phase.
Mr President,
The European Union continues to attach importance to the protection of human rights with a particular focus on the promotion of women's and children's rights. The EU welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Afghan authorities in this regard. We remain concerned at continued reports of violence against women and girls and of trafficking in women and children, and welcome the efforts of the Afghan authorities to address this issue. We also welcome the high women's participation in the elections and
the high women's representation in the new Parliament.
The European Union congratulates President Karzai and the Government of Afghanistan on the significant achievement of a 21% reduction in opium poppy cultivation from 130,000 hectares in 2003/04 to 104,000 hectares in 2004/05. The trade in drugs remains, however, the most significant challenge to the long-term security, development and governance of Afghanistan. It also undermines the stability of that region and accounts for approximately 90% of the heroin reaching the streets of Europe. There
remains a need to secure a sustained decrease in opium poppy cultivation, production and trafficking into 2006 and beyond. We therefore encourage the international community to work more closely with the Government of Afghanistan and her neighbours, including through the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund, in support of the Afghan counter narcotics strategy. The European Union looks forward to the publication of the Government of Afghanistan's National Drug Control Strategy.
Let me conclude, Mr President, by stressing that the European Union remains committed to the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan and pledges to work with the Afghan government and international partners to build a prosperous, secure and sustainable Afghanistan.
* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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