YouSaid · the spoken record

Eide

lines on the record: 184
first: 2005-10-24
most recent: 2013-04-17
sittings or episodes: 9
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Better governance at the provincial and district levels, an intensified struggle against corruption, strengthened respect for the rule of law, bringing an end to the culture of impunity and promoting social and economic justice must be prominent parts of this agenda. And I must stress that we need a new compact between the Afghan Government and its people. That compact will also be the cornerstone of a renewed commitment by the international community to Afghanistan. I am often asked if there should be conditionality in our assistance. There is, in my View, a de facto conditionality; the decisions of donors and troop- contributing countries are not made around summit tables, not around Government tables, nor even around the Security Council table.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“But these forces must also understand that in a conflict that is expanding in scope and intensity, they will be expected to step back from their policies of fragmentation and personal interests. Local and regional power brokers cannot be allowed to hinder efforts to build a coherent Afghanistan and thereby offer opportunities that insurgents can exploit. In this respect, also, the international community has an important role to play; instead of paying tribute to and enriching those who oppose the Government with undemocratic and illegitimate means, we must make it clear that the alternative to unity of purpose is marginalization. The second challenge for the future President will be to formulate an agenda that truly corresponds to the concerns of the people.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“That will also be a first important and necessary signal to the international community and will help consolidate the commitment of the public in donor and troop-contributing countries. At this point in time, with the increasing debate about Afghanistan in the international community, such a signal is of vital importance. Furthermore, we can no longer allow the warlords and power brokers of the past, and their policy of fragmentation, to contaminate the institutions of the future. We need a unity of purpose and a sharing of responsibility that have so far been lacking. Of course, eliminating the influence of the fragmenting forces of the past cannot be done overnight.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“The challenge of the ECC will now be to determine and reject fraudulent vote ballots while at the same time avoiding disenfranchisement of voters who have cast their votes in good faith and in an 3 Afghan cultural environment where many people had never seen a ballot paper and had never used a pen. When the final result has been certified, it must be respected by candidates and their supporters. What most Afghans by far now want is to see the process come to an end, a Government formed and their lives improved. Then the important decisions must be taken by the future Afghan president. That means, first of all, appointing a Government that can inspire the people and enjoy its confidence.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“The ballot boxes will all now be brought to Kabul so that the final audit can take place. This process is at every stage in accordance with international standards. It has been used in other complex elections. It should enable us to have a credible and legitimate result. At the same time, this audit process will enable us to determine the final result in a short period of time. That means that a second round, if required, could be held before winter sets in, thereby avoiding a lengthy period of political vacuum and instability. We have been assisted by some of the most experienced persons one can possibly find in this world, in electoral processes and statistics and so on, in addition to the excellent people that we have on the ground.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“I would like to emphasize a few positive elements that we should not forget. The election campaign was characterized by a public engagement that Afghanistan had never seen before. There was a real debate between political alternatives that the people of Afghanistan had never previously witnessed. In my View, this strong public engagement proves that the Afghan people wanted these elections. They wanted to continue the democratic processes in this country. Two weeks ago, many believed that we were almost at the verge of collapse in the election process. But it has been kept on track. The IEC and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) have worked together during these final stages. With the assistance of experts brought in from abroad, an audit process has been agreed to determine the level of fraud and then the final results.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“Yes, there has been fraud, and irregularities have been committed by election officials, by candidates and by their supporters, as well as by Government officials. The turn-out was low - almost as low as the elections for the European Parliament. But Afghanistan is a 09-53153 country in conflict. No other day since 2002 has seen so many security incidents as those we experienced on 20 August 2009. Nevertheless, more polling stations opened than in elections in 2004 and 2005. The security forces and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) did their utmost to provide access for voters. As I say, they did so in a country that is not only in conflict, but has weak institutions, weak infrastructure and a huge illiterate population faced with a ballot paper containing 41 presidential candidates. That illustrates the complexity of the matter.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“Finally, decisions must be made concerning priorities and the allocation of international development assistance. Faced with such important decisions, I must emphasize that doing more of the same is simply not an option any more. It is simply not an option. We must, in a way, change our mindset. Nothing of what I would ask the Council to do is dramatically new. It has in fact been agreed. We talked about it, we read about it. It has been solemnly agreed in international documents. But there is one problem: we have not implemented it. If implemented, I believe that what we have committed ourselves to can have a tremendous impact on the ground. But if we do not implement it, if we shy away from difficult decisions, then the overall situation on the ground will continue to deteriorate. First, I offer a few words about the elections.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“Mr. Eide: This is certainly decision-time in Afghanistan and for Afghanistan. As we look out over the next feW weeks, we can see how many critical decisions are ahead of us. Together, they will determine the prospects for success in ending a conflict that has become more intense over the last few months. Let me just mention a few ofthese decisions. First of all, of course, the final results from the 20 August elections will be determined and then certified. Then the future president will have to compose his Government and decide on his political agenda. Among those decisions will be how to launch a process of peace and reconciliation. Decisions will have to be made on the future size and composition of the international military forces as well as Afghan security forces.”
2009-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6194 (2009) · source
“It is not only a question of the number of personnel for me; it is a question of the quality of people and the expertise and resources that they represent. That is particularly true for the new offices to be established. We will undertake that as well as we possibly can. 14 Finally, the benchmark issue has been raised by many. I repeat that I take it very seriously, but it is interesting to see how many different versions there are around the table of what "benchmarks" means. I will conclude by saying that I will take all those ideas with me and be inspired by them. Hopefully, we will also come to our own conclusions so that the Security Council can receive a decent report in September - not you, Mr. President, but many others who will remain here. I thank them all for their kind words to me and my staff.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154Resumption1 (2009) · source
“It scares me sometimes to hear of the kind of expectations some have, given our ability to do magic with limited resources. But I think that we will certainly have to do that in the future. Ambassador Rice and others noted that we need to get together at a much earlier stage when we formulate our aid programmes, and to think together much more before we carve our programmes in stone, so to speak. When we do not, it makes it much more difficult for us to be flexible afterwards. We will try to learn from what we have seen in the past. We will open new offices and I do need more personnel, but I would like to urge all Council members and other colleagues who have participated in this meeting to see if they have personnel with the right qualities whom they could offer to us - not as gratis personnel, but to be recruited.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Mr. Eide: I really asked for the floor in order to be the last person to whom you give the floor in any Security Council meeting. I have achieved that. I want to echo the best wishes that have been expressed by so many around the table, and I am honoured to be present at your last meeting, Sir. I wish you all the best. I have just two or three very brief comments. Some speakers have mentioned the need to look beyond the election period. I agree, and I touched upon that in my statement. I think it is important that we start thinking about it, because I believe that, with a new Government in place, whoever the new President may be, it will be important to have a vision to build on very soon that ensures continuity with our current situation. That is important. The question of donor coordination has been raised again a number of times.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Consultations are under way with our partners, and I am confident that by September we will be able to present the Council with a set of meaningful benchmarks.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“I therefore appeal to the Council to support us in our urgent need for additional resources, and I will come back to address that subject in more precise terms. In the discussions in March, in the mandate given to us, the Security Council asked the mission to develop benchmarks for our activities. This work is under way and will be finalized in time for the Secretary-General's next report in September. It is not an easy task, and not a task that we take lightly, since UNAMA's efforts form an integral part of the efforts of many others, both Afghan authorities and international institutions. It is also hard to establish timelines and means of measuring progress in political processes, especially in a context as unpredictable and complex as that of Afghanistan.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“However, the situation has evolved significantly even in the six months that have passed since the 2009 budget was adopted. 5 With rising expectations and rising opportunities emerging on the ground, there is also a need for greater resources: to fulfil our mandate in donor coordination; to meet the new opportunities in capacity- and institution-building; and to expand across the country, as requested in Security Council resolutions. UNAMA does not itself bring financial resources. However, a country-wide presence of our mission could serve as a magnet to other civilian organizations and gradually draw development and governance efforts out of the military context and into the civilian context where they belong. And it could help to facilitate an all-inclusive political process through a better civilian outreach programme.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“There is a need to fill in the gaps. It would over time have a great impact on Afghanistan's dependence on foreign assistance. The expansion of the electricity lines from Central Asia through Afghanistan would have a similar impact and generate activities in a wide range of economic areas. That dimension should also be an important part of our vision for Afghanistan and its region over the next few years. Finally, a few words about the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA): its mandate is multifaceted and ambitious - very ambitious, I feel sometimes. The expectations of the international community are high, and I am certainly grateful for the additional resources given in December last year that enabled us to expand the mission significantly.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Allow me to say that Afghanistan is a very poor country, but it is not destined to poverty. It has vast mineral resources, such as the largest iron ore reserves in Asia. Infrastructure, as agriculture, is seriously underfunded. If we could concentrate on a very limited number of strategic infrastructure projects, then the impact on sustained economic growth, employment and revenue collection would be tremendous. A railway network from the Iranian border through Herat and north-east to Central Asia and China, as well as from the Pakistani border through Jalalabad linking up in the north with the lines to Central Asia and to the Iranian border, would stimulate regional trade and would enable Afghanistan to exploit and export its mineral resources. Agreements already exist for building significant parts of this network.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“It was the last of a series of meetings devoted to the regional aspects of and the regional potential for the development of Afghanistan. The need for closer regional cooperation on security matters is absolutely obvious. However, the potential goes much further. In the short term, experts from the region who know the language, the culture and the climate can often be more effective and less costly than experts from further away and could make a valuable contribution to the development of Afghan capacities. In the longer term, key infrastructure programmes could turn Afghanistan from being a barrier to trade to becoming a corridor for regional economic activities. Such infrastructure would also help Afghanistan to exploit its own natural and human resources.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Two weeks ago, I addressed almost 1,000 Afghan religious and intellectual leaders, including opposition leaders, at an event dedicated to the need for an inclusive peace process. My message to them was that such a process must be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. But the United Nations must be prepared to be a partner in such a process, and I am dedicated to helping bring about that partnership. However, a credible and successful peace process can only take place if we have a Government that enjoys the support of the people and has confidence in itself, and that can only take place if we have an international presence that enjoys the support of the people and has confidence in itself. This past week I was invited to attend the G8 meeting in Trieste.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“We need a common strategic vision for the post-election period, a vision that can provide a clearer direction and guide us over the next few years in support of a new Government; a development strategy that can enable us to move forward in a more disciplined and coordinated way and that allows for greater Afghan ownership; a security strategy that accelerates the build-up of Afghan security forces and their role in ensuring the stability of the country; and, finally, a political strategy that includes a credible and inclusive peace process, respects the rights of all Afghans - men, women and children - and brings the various parts of the country together in an inclusive manner. All these elements must be integral parts of our vision for the post- election period.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Only half of the district governors have an office building, and 288 do not have a vehicle. This has a tremendous impact on their ability to administer the country and deliver services to the people. I mentioned in the opening of my speech that we must also have a perspective that goes beyond the elections. In Paris and at The Hague Conference, clear priorities were set for our common efforts.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The number of security incidents rose beyond the 1,000 mark for the first time in May, and the number of such incidents increased by 43 per cent over the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. However, I should add that these figures are not necessarily a good measurement of the success or failure of the insurgency. There are more incidents in parts of the country that, up to now, have 09-38690 been stable. This is, no doubt, the most intense fighting season we have experienced. It is also clear that the fight against widespread corruption is still in its early stages. Institutions are still weak, not only in human capacity, but in physical infrastructure, particularly at the subnational level. Allow me to mention that six provinces still do not have offices for their governors.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The United Nations will continue to monitor and address incidents of civilian casualties in an independent manner, based on our human rights mandate. But, more importantly- or at least as importantly * we are ready to work with the new commander in his reviews to help avoid the loss of civilian lives in whatever way we possibly can. But let me repeat: the clear majority of civilian casualties are caused by the insurgency, for whom the casualties are not a result of tragic mistakes, but of deliberate policy. What I have just said is not aimed at presenting a rosy picture of the overall situation in Afghanistan. The prospects for progress are seriously undermined by the ongoing conflict.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“He appeals for a review of the use of air power in populated areas, which has led to tragic loss of lives as the result of mistakes, and he appeals for better training of international military forces to prepare them better for the Afghan cultural and political context in which they operate. It is my view that the political costs of recent mistakes are simply disproportionate to the military gains and that such reviews are urgently required. I therefore strongly welcome General McChrystal's commitment to a fundamental shift in attitude. That is an important statement. We all know that it is impossible to fight the insurgency effectively without maintaining the support of the population. With additional international forces on the ground, that challenge will become even more critical.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“More effective and coordinated development efforts will enable us, of course, to meet the concerns of the Afghan people and their legitimate demands for greater economic and social justice, and it will enhance the people's confidence in their own Government and in the international community. Then we must also strengthen our efforts to ensure that the military engagement of the international community remains supported by the Afghan people. In his report, the Secretary-General appeals for a review of the operations of special forces, which account by far for the majority of civilian casualties caused by pro-Government forces.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The United Nations has of course worked closely with the relevant ministries during the elaboration of the new plans, which have now been presented. We will continue this cooperation during the implementation phase. We are already working with other ministries to address serious imbalances, such as the entire educational sector. There is still much talk about the lack of coordination, and it is justified. However, I do feel, on this subject, that many are still discussing yesterday's debate. The situation has changed over the past few months, and I believe that we are now turning a corner. The Afghan Government is better coordinated, there are encouraging signs in the international community of better coordination, and the ability of the United Nations to carry out its coordination mandate has improved.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The shift in United States counter-narcotics policies, combined with the new Afghan programme for the development of alternative livelihoods, could also have a significant impact on our efforts to combat poppy production. However, the inequitable distribution of resources within Afghanistan continues, making it easier for the insurgency to destabilize previously stable provinces and districts. There is still a serious lack of reporting on how and where development resources are spent, which complicates, of course, planning and coordination. I hope that the ongoing gap assessment in key sectors will lead donors to provide more information about their spending and to a distribution of resources that provides greater resources for under- funded provinces.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“If we respond quickly and effectively where encouraging new developments occur, it will stimulate similar developments in other sectors. But if we fail to 3 respond, then I fear that we could face setbacks even where progress can now be seen. But I must emphasize that we are also seeing some new and promising trends in the international community's performance. In particular, the review of United States development policies over the past weeks has produced important results. I welcome the readiness to support the new national agriculture programme and the Government's plans for civilian capacity-building and for revenue collection. There is a trend to support Afghan plans and Afghan priorities much more generously than before. This could represent a major shift and lead to greater aid effectiveness and better donor coordination.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The efforts under way by the Ministry of Interior and the international community will result in proposals for a stronger and reformed Afghan National Police. When those proposals are presented to us, we must be able to respond quickly and flexibly. It cannot be that we ask Afghan authorities year after year to address our concerns, but when a minister responds we reply that this year's budget will not allow us to react. Let me give one example. This spring, the Ministry of Agriculture asked for an urgent contribution of $5.5 million for the purchase of wheat seed, to allow farmers to plant next year's crop. In spite of a number of appeals, it has not been possible to provide the resources required. We cannot end up in a situation where we have to turn to Bill Gates to meet urgent requirements of that nature.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Those positive trends are of course primarily the result of competent Afghan ministries. But they are also a result of a strong and long-term commitment by the international community. We must remain firm in that long-term commitment, on which continued progress will depend. However, progress will also depend upon the short-term ability to respond to new opportunities. The work now under way in the Ministry of Agriculture will result in a gap assessment and proposals for how to reform the agricultural sector. The work under way in the Ministry of Finance will result in a list of priorities for civilian capacity-building efforts. All those topics will be discussed in the Joint Coordination Monitoring Board (JCMB) meeting to be held in a few days' time. That work will also result in a plan for more ambitious revenue collection.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The Secretary-General's report (8/2009/323) describes some of the progress we have seen during 09-38690 recent months in strengthening security institutions, reforming the agricultural and private sectors, improving revenue collection and the Government's internal coordination and developing comprehensive civilian capacity-building programmes. I must say that there is a totally new momentum in those areas. My fear, however, is that the noise from the election campaign and the fighting season will absorb so much energy and attention that it will overshadow the positive trends and affect the momentum that has now developed. If we do not succeed in maintaining that momentum, then I am afraid we will witness new stagnation and more disillusionment among the public.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Two weeks ago, I visited a so-called call centre, where voters can call in to ask questions about the elections. The centre now receives around 25,000 calls every week from voters across the country, in particular young voters. It is an important part of the efforts of the Independent Election Commission's outreach programme to mobilize voters. The United Nations has and will continue to appeal to all voters to take part in the election process. Such participation is essential to the legitimacy of the election results and to the future strength of democratically elected institutions. Our call goes to all Afghans without any exceptions.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Those elements - non-interference, a dignified policy-oriented debate and total international impartiality - are critical elements of the level playing field that we all seek to establish. Of course, another element is the ability of candidates to conduct their campaigns. I am encouraged to see that the Afghan media will hold a significant number of presidential debates during the campaign. I appeal to all media, including the public media, to ensure that candidates have fair access. The Minister of the Interior has offered to provide close protection to candidates during their campaigning. The Minister of Defence has offered transportation for candidates, within the limits of his capabilities. Both measures will contribute to a credible campaign.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“I have also called on all candidates to avoid any inflammatory language and to conduct campaigns focused on their vision for Afghanistan's future. We need campaigns that are focused not only on who will lead the country but on where they will lead it. And I have called on the international community to avoid any interference or appearance of interference in the election process. Any such interference would undermine the legitimacy of the process, as well as people's confidence in their future leaders. In particular, it would harm the future Government's ability to bring the Afghan people together in a credible peace process. No one's interests can be served by an election result that is disputed by the people and affects the legitimacy of the future Government.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“An election campaign will always be divisive, but in this country at this juncture it is critically important that campaign disagreements are managed and are replaced by unity of purpose in building the country when the next presidential inauguration takes place. All candidates must keep that long-term perspective in mind. I have called on Government institutions and officials to maintain impartiality during all phases of the election process. As the Council knows, the President has issued a decree on non-interference by State institutions. Ministers and heads of security institutions have assured me, in my many discussions with them, of their determination to protect the integrity of their institutions. We will maintain a 09-38690 continuous dialogue with all of them to address cases of interference if and when they occur.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“I say we, but, of course, in all those processes it is the Afghan institutions and the Afghan people who will have to take the lead. As always, the role of the international community must be to provide full support. The August elections are about more than choosing Afghanistan's future leaders. They are about strengthening the people's confidence in democratic processes and about strengthening Afghanistan's democratic institutions. They are not only about who will lead, but also about the legitimacy of leadership. I have therefore urged all candidates to campaign with dignity and with fairness.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Mr. Eide: The current situation in Afghanistan is certainly the most complex that we have witnessed in many years. However, if managed well, I believe that it could also become a turning point in our efforts to bring the conflict to an end. The situation is complex because we have to keep so many perspectives and processes in mind at the same time, namely, the need to ensure an election process that is credible and where the result can be accepted by the people, the need to stimulate promising and positive developments in several sectors in spite of the noise from the election campaign and an intense fighting season, and the need to look beyond the elections and shape a more focused agenda for the next five years, one that will have to include a credible peace process as an integral part of the overall strategy.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“I thank the Council for all the support it has given to me and to the Mission. And I thank the President for giving me the chance to speak again.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“I do really deplore that that part of the overall United Nations activity has gone so slowly, really slowly. As many participants know, that is the result of a debate that we have had for some time. Fortunately, and hopefully, we have been saved by a mild winter. Finally, with regard to conferences and regional perspectives, I hope that there is a breakthrough now with regard to the regional dimension and regional cooperation. That will really be important. What I hope is that, starting with the conference in Moscow next week, a momentum could be built where attention is not spread over too many projects, too many initiatives, and that we try to establish a momentum on this and carry that momentum through the various conferences that are planned. If that happens, I believe that there could be success.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We are strengthening our presence where we have offices and are establishing new ones. We have opened and will inaugurate the office in Tirin Kot, and we will open others, as well. I mentioned Helmand as one possibility. I would like to say to those who argue that we should move faster and that we should establish offices, particularly in the south, that most troop contributors to ISAF do not want to send armed military to the south. But those around the Council table ask us to send unarmed civilians to the same places. I just leave members with that little remark, because I think it is important to keep in mind. On the humanitarian side, I think it was the representative of Canada who said "Please strengthen the humanitarian dimension", and I would answer "yes".”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“But I have to ask, "expect what of whom?" I say that because we have only the power of persuasion. That is what the United Nations has. If I try with gentle persuasion, I am told that I am too mild-mannered. If I raise my voice, the media say that it has been a stormy conversation. Ministers come to me and say, "We do not like what you are saying about us", and that is absolutely right. I will continue to say things that they do not like when I see that the required level of coordination is lacking. It is a difficult situation because it is, in the end, a question of political will. The situation is not one in which donor countries are sitting there waiting for us to come and say, "Would you please do this or that?". They have their national strategies that they are unwilling to adjust. That is the main problem we face.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“That can be the result of community disputes or other things, which are sources that contribute to this phenomenon. It is very difficult. The representative of Pakistan said that we need hearts and minds. It is interesting, for if we say, "we, the international community", we must also, on the other hand, be striving for Afghanization. I believe that only the Afghans can really win the hearts and minds of their population, and therefore this Afghanization is so important. There were some comments on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). First of all, the gap between resources and mandates is now closing, so more should be expected of us. There is every reason for that. It may take a few more months before we have the staff in place that we should, but I do expect it.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Mr. Eide: I will try to be brief in responding to some of what has been said. There has been repeated mention of civilian casualties, which is a very complex issue. Nobody is saying that there has been an intention to cause civilian casualties. Of course we all want to avoid them, and I would also say that the Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) really has made a very strong effort to move in that direction. I admire him. We also face two other problems in that regard. First of all, I think we will face increasing propaganda from the insurgency over the next year in parallel with an increase in the number of troops. Secondly, we will face the problem that we have constantly seen, namely, the problem of disinformation provided to the military.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“It is an occasion to push aside the doom-and-gloom atmosphere, roll up our sleeves and support the positive trends that we now see emerging in Afghanistan. And let us all avoid the impression that we are discussing what to do about Afghanistan. We must discuss what we can do together with the Afghans. If they feel that a debate is going on somewhere out there about them - and not with them - then we will deeply offend their sense of dignity and ownership. That sense of ownership is critical to the strength of the Government in the eyes of its public, to its confidence in itself and, ultimately, to our success in defeating the insurgency.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We must address reconciliation in a way that projects strength and conviction and not weakness and doubt. If we do not have confidence in ourselves then the Afghan people will not have confidence in us and in their own future. That would damage any reconciliation process. I am coming to the end of my speech. In a few days time, all of us and many more will meet in The Hague. It will not be a donor conference. It will be a political manifestation of support and commitment. My hope is that the conference will provide new energy and shared readiness not to re-examine all our agreed priorities, but to demonstrate readiness to implement them and to use our resources in a flexible and coordinated way. For me, the Hague Conference is a test of political will.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“For instance, agricultural experts from neighbouring countries know Afghanistan, know the climate, know the language and in addition to that are less expensive than experts from Western countries or elsewhere. They represent a significant untapped resource that should be mobilized. I have always insisted that military means alone cannot bring an end to the conflict. A political process will ultimately be needed. However, we should not believe that such a process of reconciliation can be a shortcut to peace or a replacement for other efforts to build Afghanistan. Reconciliation is not a substitute, but an indispensable final component. Furthermore, a peace process will never succeed if the Government and the international community do not have confidence in themselves.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“It ranges from huge infrastructure projects that bring the wider region together to small-scale cooperation in agriculture. The meeting in Paris in December served to mobilize the attention and interest of donors. As a follow-up to the Paris meeting, experts met in Brussels two days ago to identify priority projects in preparation for the regional economic cooperation conference in Islamabad. We are, I believe, moving from a declaratory phase to an operational phase. Already, the new electricity supply from Uzbekistan to Kabul through other cities in Afghanistan is a visible sign of the value of regional cooperation. I am convinced that in economic cooperation as well as in capacity-building, all neighbouring countries could and should play a significant role.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“But so far the winter has not brought the humanitarian crisis that many of us feared. The prospects for the next harvest seem to be better than last year. In the middle of April we will be better able to assess the situation and the prospects than we are today. Over the next few months, there will be several conferences on the regional dimension of our work. I very much welcome this wider focus. I hope that these various conferences can be prepared in a way that turns them into a process rather than a series of separate events. The improved relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan is encouraging. None of us underestimates the challenges and the need to support this new relationship, as illustrated by the appointment of so many special envoys for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The potential for regional cooperation is indeed impressive.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“It is a matter of human rights, but it is also a matter of making full use of the entire Afghan population in building the country. Afghanistan cannot afford to keep 50 per cent of its population marginalized. There are women in prominent positions today, but they are few. Many more are needed to serve as role models for the young female population and to use their resources for the benefit of their country. We have also constantly raised the question of freedom of expression, which is always important, but even more so when an election campaign is approaching. When I last addressed the Security Council, I was deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation and the prospects of starvation occurring in large parts of the country. That danger has not passed.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Allow me only to mention two other areas that I believe are important and need our full attention: the rights of women in Afghan society and freedom of expression. I have been disturbed by recent reports of violence against women and brutal rape cases. The Mission and I are speaking out consistently against such phenomena, against the marginalization of women in Afghan society, against the prevailing atmosphere of impunity, and against the lack of access to the court system and to adequate health facilities. Afghanistan is today the only country in the world where the average life expectancy for women is much lower than that for men. And we are speaking out to promote the education of women and their ability to take part in Afghan society.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source