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

“And resources for higher education and vocational training in the same provinces are very scarce. So now is a time for strategy and policy reviews. I therefore welcome those reviews that are under way and believe that they can re-energize our common effort in a meaningful way at a critical moment. However, I would also emphasize that we have set priorities - we have agreed on them, in Paris and elsewhere. The main problem is our limited readiness to implement our priorities - to implement what we have agreed on - and to be flexible enough to respond to changes and to have a strategic, nationwide perspective in our work. I have touched upon our human rights mandate in terms of civilian casualties, as well as the election process.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“They told me that very, very soon millions of young girls and boys will complete their secondary education - millions. That is good news. But there is very limited capacity to absorb them into higher education. Only 4 per cent of them will be able to move on to vocational training. If this is not soon corrected, Afghanistan will not be able to make use of its intellectual resources, and the potential for economic growth will be significantly limited. The private sector will not have the qualified and educated people it needs. The readiness of donors to provide primary education is very encouraging. One country is building 200 schools in its own province - I say "its own" because it has a Provincial Reconstruction Team there. But the neighbouring province lacks anything resembling this type of generosity.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We must formulate a national vision and national programmes: a fragmented and piecemeal approach will not work. Programmes should include qualified people, the technical assets required and financial resources. Afghan ownership must be ensured. And capacity-building should, where possible, include both training and mentorship. Capacity- and institution- building is not the kind of activity that lends itself to ribbon-cutting events or to photo opportunities. But it is the most critical element in enabling the Afghans to run their own affairs. Let me illustrate why I insist on more strategic and long-term thinking. Recently I had a meeting with the Minister of Education, the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. They are all responsible for education of all sorts, including vocational training.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“It is not enough to send people. So often we have seen how a supply-based as opposed to a need-based approach has failed. Often, I must admit, I have wondered whose capacity is being built - the capacity of foreign experts or of the Afghan institutions. I firmly believe that a massive - I repeat, massive - capacity- and institution-building programme is required. It must be at the top of our priorities. This includes ensuring that, wherever possible, capacity- building is an integrated part of every development project. It includes a more strategic approach to education and the building of institutions at a national and at a subnational level. I am talking about the security institutions, the judicial institutions, ministries and provincial and district administrations. But success will depend on the following aspects.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The United Nations will also set up a new peer review mechanism, the purpose of which will be to bring together donors in certain priority areas so as to ensure that they are not duplicating, but complementing, each other, and that they have a strategic perspective in accordance with the plans of the Afghan Government. This initiative is supported by the Afghan Government itself and by main donors. I have mentioned the need to focus more on capacity- and institution-building, which is one of our priorities. It is the most important element in building Afghanistan, and it is the most important element of an international exit strategy. It has worked well in building the Afghan army and it is starting to work well in building the police. Why is that so? It is so primarily because there are national programmes.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The majority by far of all aid is spent outside the control of the Government, and any attempt to influence how it is spent is hampered by an extraordinarily complex international donor system. With the assistance of the World Bank, we will soon set up a new, comprehensive and easily accessible database at the Ministries of the Economy and Finance. I urge all donors to make full use of it. So many donors I meet underline the importance of better coordination, but so few, I must say, show a readiness to modify their practices. Those practices have brought us into the state of fragmentation and confusion in which we still find ourselves.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“I would recommend that all Provincial Reconstruction Teams channel, wherever possible, development resources through often underfunded but successful mechanisms, such as the National Solidarity Programme. That would make projects less expensive and more sustainable, and it would enhance the position of the Afghan Government in the eyes of its public. Fourthly, I now believe that the use of an amount of between $500 million and $1 billion is never reported to the Afghan Government. Consequently, the Afghan Government does not know - and we do not know - how much is being spent across the country and for what purposes. As a result of the lack of coordination and transparency, large portions of the National Development Strategy will go unfunded.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Secondly, I know that some Council members are tired of this, but I come back to what I have called the donor-generated fragmentation of Afghanistan. I understand the need to build where you fight, but the balance is wrong and getting worse, despite constant warnings, agreed commitments and urging by Afghan authorities. An increasing number of donors are taking an increasingly province-based perspective of Afghanistan. A shared nationwide perspective is required. If the current trends are not corrected, then I fear turbulence where there is today stability, as well as an increasing inability to implement national programmes. Thirdly, where possible, the international military should channel development resources through civilian authorities and institutions - preferably Afghan - rather than do the development work themselves.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“There have, in recent months, been a number of discussions of policy-shaping, which I hope will eventually turn into policymaking. Furthermore, some countries are channelling more resources through national programmes and the Afghan budget. But I continue to have serious worries, as Council members are aware, about a number of our practices. First, we must, as much as possible, move away from the use of contractors, who are often overpaid and underqualified, whose aim is to finish projects quickly before they move on to the next. The short-term costs of such development policies are high and the long- term impact is low. We must be better at measuring our achievements in terms of impact, cost-effectiveness and effect on capacity-building.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“I understand those who say that an increased troop level may reduce the requirements to use airpower and lead to a lower number of civilian casualties, but we should also admit the danger of the opposite happening. Additional troops will mean more fighting, and that is the purpose. With more troops and frequent troop rotations, the international military forces must ensure that they operate in a way that solidifies both the support of the Afghan public and of public opinion in troop-contributing countries. Inadequate donor coordination is a major concern to all of us and a priority element of our mandate. We have made progress in some areas. I believe political coordination is better than before. With regard to donor coordination, the picture is more complex and perhaps less encouraging.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“I am pleased to see that the commander of international forces, General McKiernan - to Whom I pay tribute - is addressing this problem so strongly and convincingly in his instructions to the troops: to minimize the use of air power; to improve coordination with Afghan security forces, giving them the lead where possible; and to respect, as I said, the cultural sensitivities of the Afghan population. President Karzai has expressed his views strongly and repeatedly. These are views shared by many Afghans, and they are being listened to and addressed. Unfortunately, I must add, insurgency groups continue their indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilians.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The United Nations has taken a lead in addressing civilian casualties and military behaviour that does not adequately respect Afghan cultural sensitivities. This follows from our obligation to protect and promote human rights, but our engagement is also motivated by the need to ensure strong Afghan support for a continued international engagement. We have seen how serious incidents have not only affected support for the international military forces, but have also made the humanitarian and development community more vulnerable. The number of civilian casualties rose by 40 per cent last year, with the insurgency clearly accounting for the majority of such casualties.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The relationship between the International Security Assistance Force and the United Nations Mission has continued to improve. Together with the Afghan Government, we have come a long way now in formulating the integrated approach that we have been talking about for years. The aim is simple: to allocate our overall resources - civilian and military - in a way that would allow us to make the best possible use of them; to strengthen development efforts where they can proceed unhindered; and to provide a better basis of governance in swing districts, gradually attracting more civilian development where such efforts have so far been difficult. We must learn to work together in a different way than in the past.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“The United Nations and the Independent Electoral Commission will establish an election complaints commission, which will be as robust as possible under current circumstances. A media complaint commission will be established and the United Nations and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission will monitor respect for political rights. All involved - the Government, the opposition and the international community - must understand the costs of a flawed and unfair election process. The result would be prolonged political instability when stability is required more than ever. The result would create doubt in the minds of many Afghans about the value of democratic processes when confidence is needed. Civil-military cooperation is an important part of our mandate.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We also have a message for the Government. The opposition has concerns that are real and well-founded. They relate to the transparency and fairness of the election process. The Afghan Government must demonstrate that it is ready to do its utmost to reassure the opposition that elections will be fair and transparent and that the resources of incumbency will not be misused. Finally, there is a message for the international community. We must also do our outmost to establish mechanisms with the very same objectives - transparency and fairness - in cooperation with the Afghan authorities and civil society. I urge those who have been invited to send international observers - the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - to play their parts fully alongside domestic observation efforts.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“They must reach a political consensus that ensures the legitimacy and strength of Afghan institutions until the next presidential inauguration. Reaching such a consensus is a matter of vital political interest. Such consensus has been reached in the past when national interests were considered to be at stake. But when leaders have failed to reach a national consensus, we know that the costs for the country have been very high. The international community has 70,000 troops in Afghanistan operating alongside Afghan forces today. Billions of dollars are invested. The summer months represent the peak of the fighting season. We cannot 3 afford to see these months become a period of political and constitutional instability. We need a Government and we need institutions that can continue their work with full strength and broad legitimacy.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“As I mentioned, the number of incidents in Kabul has gone down, owing partly to the improved performance of Afghan security forces, but we have to expect an intense fighting season, starting only a few weeks from now. The election process has, of course, taken centre stage in our efforts and has also been at the centre of attention in the media. We now have an agreement on the election date, 20 August, which means that we can plan, from a financial, procurement, organization, training and security point of view, on the basis of a firm deadline. The main challenge now is, of course, how to resolve the dispute regarding what will happen between 22 May, when the current presidential term ends according to the Constitution, and the beginning of the next presidential term. Our message to Afghan politicians and to the opposition is clear.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“However, it would not have been possible without the presence and commitment of the international community, civilian as well as military. So this is not a time to waver; it is a time to remain committed. These positive trends are so often overshadowed by dramatic events and political developments - at this point, mainly the security situation and the intense debate about the presidential and provincial elections. Yes, the security situation has deteriorated over the past few months. A mild winter provided a suitable environment for maintaining high levels of violence, and an early Ramadan allowed for a prolonged fighting season. As a result, the overall number of security incidents in December 2008 rose by 42 per cent compared with that in the previous December; in January 2009, it was 75 per cent higher than in January 2008.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“And, for the first time, we would be able to seriously address some of our most serious, most long-standing and deepest concerns: fighting corruption and crime, reducing the flow of financial resources to the insurgency and improving food security. There are no quick fixes; it will take time. But, for the first time in many years, there have been promising developments. If we do not respond quickly, then we may well face new stagnation and even backlash in several of these sectors. That we cannot afford. Progress in each of them will contribute to political stability and economic growth and be a critical component of any international exit strategy. 09-27354 Of course, the main credit for this progress goes to prominent Afghan politicians and officials.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“However, I underline the word "potential" because our ability to turn them into reality will, to a large extent, depend on the ability of the international community to respond quickly with support. There is a need to provide trainers, mentors and equipment to the police. There is a need to adjust and strengthen agricultural assistance with a view to responding flexibly to new priorities and new programmes. There is a need to provide support for governors who are determined to make their provinces poppy-free and to farmers who are ready to switch from poppy to licit crops. If we could succeed in those areas, then we would truly live up to the commitments that we all undertook in Paris in June last year.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Fourthly, the improved internal cohesion that we now see emerging in the Government will help us to overcome the fragmentation that has so far hampered coordination with the international community. A stronger Afghan counterpart will allow us to make better use of the main coordination body, the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board. Fifthly, the prognosis for poppy cultivation in 2009 indicates that there is the potential for a very significant decline in production across the country. We could see a further increase in the number of poppy- free provinces, as well as serious reductions in poppy production in the South. That could be a turning point in our counter-narcotics efforts. Those developments represent potential success stories.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“A significant number of police officers have been removed and are being prosecuted. A national agricultural strategy will be launched in April. It will include all the major sectors of agriculture and establish pool funding for donors. The main objectives are, of course, to increase agricultural production, to develop marketing capabilities and to enhance rural employment. The new team in the Ministry of Commerce is addressing the challenges of private-sector development: the establishment of a legal framework, the setting of 09-27354 investment promotion priorities, licensing reform and trade and transit agreements with neighbouring countries. And let me remind members that police, agriculture and private-sector development have all suffered from neglect for years. They are now being addressed as priority areas.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Yes, there have been some spectacular terrorist attacks in Kabul, but the overall number of attacks in the capital has gone down, not least because of this improved coordination. In addition, the economic ministries are working in a more coherent manner following changes in the leadership of the ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Commerce. That should enable the Government to develop more unified economic policies. Thirdly, these changes have enabled the Government to better address some of our long- standing concerns. Let me just mention a few of them. With regard to the police, a comprehensive reform effort is under way to strengthen and clean up the police force. That should lead to a more efficient fight against the insurgency, greater respect for the rule of law and an enhanced ability to fight corruption.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“Mr. Eide: I will start with some developments that are not frequently reported and do not receive the public attention that they deserve. Nonetheless, they are important if we are to form a more complete picture of developments in Afghanistan. First, after all the changes that have taken place over the past few months, the Afghan Government today is better and more competent than ever before and the quality of provincial governance is better. Secondly, cooperation among key elements inside the Government has improved; that applies most prominently to the security ministries and institutions. And the results are clear. We see an enhanced ability to uncover terrorist networks and to prevent attacks from taking place.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“As I said, I am pleased about the support that Council members give to us and I count on all of them to see that support materialize on the ground. The Ambassador of the United Kingdom mentioned the eight points that I had drawn up as elements that I want to address quickly, and he supported me strongly and will follow and monitor that. All of those eight points require the full support of some key donors, so we will work together to see that they are actually carried out.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“That will depend on the relatively small agriculture sector and the influx of foreign money. That clarifies a little bit the phenomenon that was questioned. I am pleased to see agreement on two or three issues here. First, we must do away with the doom and gloom that are too widely spread, almost as a hobby, by some. We should put an end to that - not as part of a smart strategic communication plan, but because there are substantive reasons for having greater confidence in what we are doing. I mentioned the changes; let us believe that they will result in changes also on the ground. I am pleased about that. I am pleased about the support that was promised by everybody around the table to the new team that the President has put in place. I think that is tremendously important.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I can only say that putting the coordinating mechanisms in place, as I announced I would do in April, took quite some months to have approved, not least before countries here and elsewhere added details and comments. Finally, what I suggested a few months earlier was approved. So things take time and there are no quick fixes, but we will do our best. As to the question of poverty versus economic growth, the Ambassador of Afghanistan will be in a much better position to answer that question, but I think some basic elements can be mentioned here. First, the increase in food and fuel prices impacts the poverty level of the population. With regard to the growth level that we are seeing, there are two or three elements that influence whether it will be 6 or 11 or 13 per cent.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I will be brief. There is a long way, as we know, from generous statements of commitment to changing policies and coordinating action and to visible results on the ground. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan said that there is no quick fix. He is absolutely right, but nevertheless I feel that sometimes some countries, here and elsewhere, which should know that there are no quick fixes tend to believe that for our part there is a quick fix. We all know it is not like that. Let us work steadfastly and stubbornly together and then we will see results. That is my answer to the question of coordination. I am glad to have had this opportunity to respond.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“In order to fulfil that mandate, we have to formulate a budget that can provide the resources required. The budget will then be debated throughout the year and adopted some time in December, and then the recruitment process can really start. That means that, by May or June 2009, I will have the resources in place that I need in order to implement the mandate given to us in March 2008. Some members are impatient. I can assure them that I am more impatient than they are because every day I feel the pressure of the lack of proportion between mandate and resources. With all due respect, the Council votes in favour of generous mandates and rather quickly, but does it vote for generous resources just as quickly? That is where the problem lies and that is where the people on the ground feel the pressure. There is a third element.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Can I say a few words about that? First there is the question of resources: the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was and is a small and, as I said, a vulnerable mission. It is a mission that was shaped at a period when one did not need the kind of specific qualifications and experience that we need today, and so to shift the profile is difficult. Secondly, we are in a building where, over the years and decades, rules and regulations have been put in place that are probably of great value in regulating activities, but sometimes perhaps slow things down a little bit. I cannot blame the Secretariat because the Secretariat acts upon the instructions given by Member States. Let me cite one example. We were given a mandate by the Security Council in March; we were given additional input by the Paris Conference on 12 June.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Mr. Eide: The Ambassador of Costa Rica had a couple of questions that I am pleased to answer. To comment, in a more detailed way, on changes in the Government of a sovereign country is, perhaps, a bit daring. I must say, however, that I do know the gentlemen who have been appointed to their new positions. I am convinced that the dedication is there, the knowledge is there and the proven experience is there. That is why I also believe that those changes have been welcomed across the board. That is why I also say that this is an opportunity. The topics that we are dealing with are really critical to our overall efforts. That is why I also compliment the President on having chosen to change ministers in those particular ministries and having brought new dynamism into the Government. Then there is the difficult question of coordination.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“That is the main challenge: to take commitments seriously. We will do our work, and I trust that we will have the Council's full cooperation.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Seventh, we must develop a design for agricultural reform that enables all of us to follow the same priorities and to maximize the impact of the resources available to us. Eighth, we must solidify the Pakistani-Afghan relationship within a wider regional confidence- building framework. I have often talked about a political surge. By that, I do not mean to minimize the importance of military forces, but it is important to focus on how to give the political dimension of our work greater prominence. The issues that I have mentioned belong to the political agenda, where we have to seek a surge. I hope that we can all work together on that agenda. We will do our best to coordinate, but coordination does not depend on mechanisms; it depends on commitments and the implementation of commitments.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“That is critical for transparency and aid effectiveness. Today, the United Nations and, even more important, the Afghan Government do not know how many resources are going into the country or what they are being spent on. That must be corrected. Third, we must set up a mechanism for joint audits, enhancing accountability on each side. 08-54872 Fourth, we must strengthen the recently established Government mechanism for combating corruption. Fifth, we must agree on a plan as to the kind of police we want - because we are not even there yet - how we should train them and how we should equip them, and then we must start implementing that plan. Sixth, as I have stated, we must put discussion behind us with regard to the Afghan social outreach programme and start implementing it.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“So let me mention some achievable targets: to agree with donors on specific criteria to measure aid effectiveness, such as the amount of money spent through the core budget; appropriate mechanisms to provide orchestrated support to the Afghan National Development Strategy; the equitable nationwide distribution of resources; the percentage of resources spent in Afghanistan in opposition to resources being spent in donor countries; and the level of resources spent to build Afghan capacity. None of these are new; they are all Paris commitments that we have all undertaken. Second, we must establish one databank instead of many, allowing the Afghan Government and the United Nations to track resources spent through provincial reconstruction teams, development agencies and non-governmental agencies.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Over the past few days, as I mentioned, our efforts have been concentrated on the need to build support around the new ministers who are about to take up their functions. We are addressing critical issues of data collection in order to monitor and improve aid effectiveness. Some have asked where I would like the United Nations Mission to be six months from now.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“There is a need for all of us to find 08-54872 creative solutions within existing regulations that enable us to meet specific requirements quickly. With regard to the substance of our work after Paris, we have set up a new and more results-oriented consultation machinery, and it is starting to work. We have worked with the Afghan Government to establish an implementation structure for the Afghanistan National Development Strategy. We have worked with international donors to obtain the clarity we have sought in the important social outreach programme of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance, where discussion has gone on for many months and delayed important efforts. We have worked with the Afghan Government to strengthen institution-building and to move toward a more professional civil service.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Finally, I have a few words about the work of the United Nations Mission. It is still a small mission in need of qualified staff to fulfil its mandate. We have asked for a significant increase in staff and in budget, and I appeal to all Council members for their support. However, I am more concerned about the quality than the quantity of the staff. At the present stage, we need a number of people with very specialized qualifications within aid effectiveness, agriculture, et cetera. I am grateful for the many offers that made been made, but I also ask for understanding for the fact that the regulations we have to respect in this building make it difficult to respond as positively and as quickly as we would have liked.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I have always believed that a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan will depend on the continued and robust presence of military forces but that the solution in itself will ultimately be a political solution. However, we must avoid speaking of reconciliation in a way that does not reflect the complexity of such a process and does not fully respect the lead and the ownership of the Afghan Government. A policy of engagement will be required. It must be led with strength and confidence by the Afghan Government, based on the constitution and the other achievements we have made so far, and it must be supported by a strong and confident international community. The United Nations stands ready to assist in such a process, in accordance with the mandate given to us in Security Council resolution 1806 (2008).”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“At the same time, a number of provinces and districts are in the balance. A number of provinces have seen progress that must be urgently consolidated. But they receive very modest resources. And these are provinces that could be stabilized and where progress could be consolidated with limited means and limited civilian economic resources. But the effect would be tremendous. That view is shared by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Costa. And let me add that, without a balanced and equitable distribution of resources, the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, to which we have all committed ourselves, cannot be implemented. There is today much talk about reconciliation.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“To me, a comprehensive approach is not first and foremost a question of how to organize our efforts in a post-operational landscape; it is about how we allocate our overall civilian and military resources to produce optimal effects on the ground. Today, a growing amount of civilian resources is allocated to conflict provinces to support military operations. I understand that, and I understand the logic that countries need to demonstrate that where they fight they must also build. But the result could easily be that more and more of us adopt a province- based perspective. We must avoid a donor-generated fragmentation of Afghanistan. There must be a balance. That is my appeal. Civilian resources will inevitably have a limited impact where and when the conflict is most intense.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“However, when we talk about civilian casualties, I should add something fundamental here. When we speak about this topic, we must all remember that the clear majority of such casualties are caused by the insurgency. The increased use of asymmetric attacks has also led to a significant increase in civilian victims, and such attacks must be firmly condemned. As part of our civilian-military cooperation, we have also elaborated an integrated approach under civilian leadership. The challenge will be to translate this strategy into practical policies. And in this respect I would like to make one comment that I consider to be of great importance.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“It is a relationship based on respect for each other's distinctive mandates. We have worked together closely on the election process, which is now under way. We work better on humanitarian issues, where a set of guidelines have been agreed upon to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered in an impartial way, respecting humanitarian principles. We work together on human rights issues, not least to avoid civilian casualties as a result of the use of force. It is my hope and belief that the current work in this area will have a positive impact on the ground, and I am convinced that a clear and independent United Nations voice in this area is of benefit to all, and that a good and constant dialogue with the military forces is essential. My recent and very constructive conversations with key military leaders confirm that impression.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Let me draw the Council's attention to another important priority for the United Nations, for the Afghan Government in particular, for the Afghan authorities and for us all. A week ago, the election process started with the first phase of voter registration. Despite delays in the opening of some voter registration centres, due to logistics, communication and security issues, 90 per cent of the registration centres were open this week. Together with 3 the Afghan authorities, we are monitoring the situation closely to overcome operational challenges and to do our utmost to ensure a safe and credible registration process. A part of our mandate is to ensure better civil- military cooperation. I believe that, today, we have a better relationship with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) than we had half a year ago.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I am cautiously - I repeat, cautiously - optimistic that we can start replacing the current negative atmosphere with an atmosphere of greater confidence in what we are all doing. That is important for the Afghan people, and it is important for the public in donor and troop-contributing countries as well as for the international community as such. There is one other priority that has to be urgently addressed. The humanitarian challenges are serious and increasing. First and foremost, we may soon be facing a serious food shortage. Again, I would urge donors to ensure that the requirements of the joint appeal launched by the Afghan Government and the United Nations in July are covered, so that food and other assistance can be available to those who are the most vulnerable.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“The overall production area has been reduced by 19 per cent, and the number of poppy-free provinces has gone from 11 two years ago to 13 last year and to 18 this year. And further can progress can be made here. Today, poppy cultivation is not an Afghanistan-wide phenomenon, but rather a phenomenon limited to a number of provinces, primarily in the south, and particularly, of course, Helmand, which accounts for the vast majority of the production. At this stage, we must do our utmost to consolidate this progress and make sure that, next year, more - and not fewer - provinces are poppy- free. As I have said previously, that is achievable. If we make good use of these positive trends in critical areas, then the overall impact could also be very significant.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“The changes in the Ministry of Agriculture must also be used to inject new energy into boosting agricultural production and to help us to avoid serious and frequent shortages of food and stimulate economic growth. It is an area that we, the international 08-54872 community, have neglected for too long; and the price of such neglect is too high. Over the last few days, the United Nations has already been working with the Afghan Government and key partners on the ground to determine how we can use this opportunity to address our common priorities. The third positive development is that the latest statistics for drug production show a mixed picture, but with some important positive trends.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I know from numerous conversations with the President that those changes reflect a desire to better address some of the key areas that have been identified in the ANDS and the Paris Declaration as our common priorities. I am first and foremost thinking of the strengthening of the Ministry of Interior and of the Afghan police, the latter of which lags seriously behind the army. This could affect security on the ground, the respect for rule of law, the fight against corruption and our counter-narcotics and border control efforts. The implications could thus be very significant. I know that the new Minister, who has previously successfully built two ministries, is dedicated to doing his utmost and will approach this task also with great determination.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“Following President Karzai's attendance at the swearing-in ceremony of President Zardari, the political dialogue is expanding, and it is based on an understanding that a threat from the insurgency is a shared threat. In addition to this political dialogue, I hope that the jirga process of last year will soon get under way again. It is a useful instrument for helping to address challenges that the two countries have in common. The international community must strengthen this improved relationship in a wise, thoughtful and generous way. The second development is the changes made by President Karzai in his Government last Saturday.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source
“I would nevertheless caution against the kind of gloom and doom statements of which we have heard so many recently: many of them really go too far. Also, some of them come from people who have scarcely put their feet on the ground in Afghanistan. There are positive developments that we must take advantage of, and these positive developments affect some of the critical elements in our common agenda to solve the conflict. Let me mention three of them in particular. First, the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan has improved. Instead of acrimonious statements, we now see a more constructive working relationship emerging.”
2008-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5994 (2008) · source