YouSaid · the spoken record

De Klerk

lines on the record
61
first
2007-10-15
most recent
2010-10-26
sittings or episodes
9
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “To support that process, the Afghan Army and the International Security Assistance Force will need to maintain sufficient military pressure on the insurgency. Let me also say a few words about the international community. The comprehensive report (S/2008/159) of the Secretary-General issued on 6 March rightly underscores the synergy in objectives between the United Nations, NATO, the EU and bilateral donors. We hope that the new resolution on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will build on that by further strengthening the centrality of the United Nations. To be more precise, as long as Afghan institutions need international support to deal with development and governance, the United Nations needs to take a lead role in coordinating international efforts. We welcome the high priority that Mr.”

    2008-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5851Resumption1 (2008) · source

  2. “The Afghan Army will have to provide security on its own, while the police maintain public order. Afghans will also have to seriously fight corruption and the drug trade, both of which are undermining the State. We also look forward to progress in the area of transitional justice. None of those changes will happen overnight. For our part, we will support them wherever we can. As far as the difficult situation in southern Afghanistan is concerned, we believe that the Government of Afghanistan needs to secure an enduring political settlement. That will require an effective stabilization programme that supports outreach efforts to reconcile Afghan communities and disenfranchised groups and bring them into the political process. Ordinary Afghans have to be shown that progress is being made on the issues that affect their daily lives.”

    2008-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5851Resumption1 (2008) · source

  3. “Those reports sometimes overlook the fact that the primary responsibility for improving the destiny of the Afghan people indeed lies with the Government of President Karzai. We praise the great efforts the Government of Afghanistan has made to bring stability and development to its people. For instance, this month the Afghan Government will be putting the finishing touches to the Afghanistan National Development Strategy. In our view, all international actors should, to the greatest extent possible, bring their aid efforts into line with the framework of that Afghan-led Strategy. Increasingly, Afghans will need to supply the sheet music for the many voices of the international choir. Afghan ownership also means Afghan leadership. Afghan authorities will increasingly have to provide public services themselves.”

    2008-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5851Resumption1 (2008) · source

  4. “Thank you, Mr. President, for providing my delegation the opportunity to participate in this open debate. The Netherlands fully supports the statement made this morning by the representative of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union (EU), including his appreciation for the introduction provided by Under- Secretary-General Gue'henno and his warm words of welcome for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Eide. In the light of our substantial contribution, both militarily and in the field of development, we would like to make a few additional remarks on Afghan leadership and the role of the international community. Almost every week, think tanks and non- governmental organizations produce reports about Afghanistan and the recommended course of action for the international community.”

    2008-03-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5851Resumption1 (2008) · source

  5. “We maintained a military presence in Bosnia for 15 years. International solidarity, our own national security and a moral obligation to the Afghan people warrant a continued multilateral presence in Afghanistan. The debate in the Netherlands on prolonging our stay in Uruzgan is, however, not yet finalized. In that context, the Netherlands calls upon United Nations Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to ISAF, particularly for deployment in the troubled southern provinces.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  6. “We need patience and a long-term commitment to poverty reduction - more specifically, rural development. Only an integrated approach can help us. The Afghan counter-narcotics strategy has all the necessary elements; we need to insist on its correct implementation. Our experience in Uruzgan has taught us that, although eradication is an integral part of the strategy, eradication should not be carried out in isolation but should be preceded by the provision of viable alternatives. And even though eradication can be an option, spraying is not, in our view: we believe that it is too indiscriminate and that it carries too many health risks. Finally, I should like to say a word about staying power. The Netherlands strongly believes that the international community must commit to Afghanistan for the long haul.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  7. “We ask the national Government to actively promote the rollout of national programmes in the provinces, even difficult ones such as Uruzgan. The urgent challenge right now is to bring better governance to the people of Afghanistan, including in the more far-flung provinces. Today, we should, as a matter of priority, focus our efforts on the growing discontent among the Afghan population. People are growing impatient; they want central and provincial government to offer the basic services that they have been promised since 2002. I should now like to say a word on counter- narcotics efforts. This is an area where many of the problems that plague Afghanistan - a lack of effective governance, corruption, the influence of power brokers and the insurgents - come together. There are no easy solutions.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  8. “All of us are in Afghanistan because we have a clear-cut security interest in being there and because of our responsibility to the Afghan people. But those are not the only reasons. Afghanistan is one of the poorest nations on Earth. By investing in development in Afghanistan, the international community is working towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in one of the most difficult environments possible. The security situation and the lack of capacity on the part of both the Government and non-governmental organizations are hampering development plans and programmes. Capacity-building needs our immediate attention. Capacity can be built only by working through Afghan national programmes.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  9. “We are gaining valuable experience in Afghanistan that can be put to use in other fragile or failed States. ISAF is an Assistance Force, providing security and stability so that the legitimate Afghan Government, in cooperation with international organizations and other civilian development actors, can succeed. ISAF is no reconstruction entity. The Netherlands would like to see more complementarity among the United Nations, NATO and the European Union (EU). We are very pleased that the EU has started a police mission in Afghanistan. We will continue to encourage the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to open offices, as a matter of priority, in all southern provinces. In our view, the United Nations as a whole needs a much stronger engagement in the civilian area.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  10. “Although many challenges remain, there is no reason for an attitude of doom and gloom. The Council rightly underscores the synergy in objectives between the United Nations and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). ISAF has settled in all over the country and has shown that it can deliver basic security within the Afghan development zones. That is also what the Netherlands, with 1,800 troops, and Australia have shown in Uruzgan. In the troubled southern provinces, the Taliban is under pressure, although the threat of asymmetrical attacks has not subsided. The ISAF mission is a state-of-the-art stabilization mission, one in which human security and the creation of an environment conducive to better Government and socio-economic development are central points.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source

  11. “My delegation is grateful for this opportunity to take the floor in this important debate and to add a few remarks to the statement made by Portugal, the current European Union President, regarding the Netherlands' commitment to peace, security and sustainable development in Afghanistan. The excellent and comprehensive report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/555) demonstrates the complexity of the problems that Afghanistan and the international community are facing. Thanks to the continuing support of the international community, the Government of Afghanistan is increasing its capacity and its effectiveness. Millions of refugees have returned; millions of children, including girls, now go to school; and the majority of Afghans have access to basic health services.”

    2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source