YouSaid · the spoken record

Haysom

lines on the record: 332
first: 2014-12-18
most recent: 2023-12-14
sittings or episodes: 24
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

“We reassure the Council of our commitment to the ever more effective discharge of our mandate for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“We are conscious that behind this figure lies the tragic loss and grief of surviving members of families and communities. It is no longer sufficient for parties to the conflict to make public statements on the need to avoid civilian casualties; they must change the way they conduct the war. The United Nations has recently expressed its concern at the disturbing pattern of attacks and raids on educational and medical facilities, in contravention of international humanitarian standards. We do, however, welcome the Government's renewed commitment and recent steps to prevent the recruitment of children by parties to the conflict. UNAMA welcomes its refreshed mandate to be adopted by the Security Council today.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“I again met with the Taliban Political Commission last week and reiterated that peace in Afghanistan requires an intra-Afghan dialogue that must, by necessity, involve the Taliban and Taliban groups. However, they reiterated that they were not yet ready to engage directly with the Government. The United Nations will continue to energetically engage with all stakeholders offering support, assistance, advice, good offices and supplementary channels of communications. Whatever the eventual path forward, the United Nations will also encourage the participation of women in any peace process so as to ensure that women's voices are heard and that their rights are protected. Some 11,000 civilian Afghans were killed or injured last year as a result of the conflict. A quarter of these victims were children.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“The establishment of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group is a welcome development that has reinvigorated efforts to put a peace process on track. We notably appreciate the efforts of Pakistan to assist in midwifing such talks. A successful peace process will require the support of neighbouring countries and the wider region. As such, and with the increasing regional dimension of terrorism, it will be important for countries ofthe region to collaborate on a common approach to the shared threat as well as to act in support of Afghanistan's peace initiatives. We have called repeatedly and we will continue to call for nothing less than direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan Government.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Investment in Afghanistan's must be shown to be a better alternative to the costs of integrating immigrants. However, donor expectations of Afghanistan's reform agenda must be realistic, taking into account the formidable challenges facing the country. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) itself will assist donors and the Government in formulating a joint consensus on this programme. The final hurdle is progress towards a sustainable peace. Afghans want peace, they deserve peace, but most importantly they need peace. Without a peace process, the sustainability and viability of all our efforts in Brussels, Warsaw, New York, and elsewhere to bring stability and prosperity to Afghanistan will be called into question.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“In the coming months, the international community will make critical decisions at Warsaw and Brussels on the level and type of assistance that it will continue to provide to Afghanistan. As the country continues to rely on external funding sources for 69 per cent of Government expenditures, failure by the international community to pledge a medium-term commitment to Afghanistan will have a devastating impact both materially and on the levels of confidence of ordinary Afghans. Because of alternative demands for international attention and resources, donors will need to be assured that their assistance will have a tangible impact. Afghanistan must show, in particular, that it is committed to tackling corruption, making the necessary governance reforms, addressing the illicit economy and generating confidence in Afghanistan's future.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Electoral reform is important for the National Unity Government to indicate manifest progress in democratization and to fulfil the commitments it made to the population in 2014. The announcement ofa 15 October election date has brought some clarity, but for there to be real progress, what is required is the introduction of electoral reforms and the standing-up of the election management bodies. The United Nations has made it clear that it expects Afghans to take these decisions expeditiously and on the basis of the broadest consensus. We can report that, only this week, the Government finally issued a decree establishing a new selection committee to nominate independent election commissioners. Yet the urgency to complete preparations remains, and the failure to undertake these preparations will have political consequences.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“With regard to the political transition, the National Unity Government continues to be subject of criticism on account of the economic and security deterioration, although that is not of its own making. It is being challenged by a fractious political elite and the erosion of a necessary sense of national unity - and, consequentially, that most precious political commodity, confidence in the future. In the face of calls for reviewing the current political framework, the United Nations and the international community have made it clear to all stakeholders that they stand firmly behind the National Unity Government. We can even positively report that, despite delays in effective decision-making, the Government has now appointed an Attorney General and a Minister of Interior. A number of key posts, however, remain to be filled.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“They are reconstituting their front-line units and concentrating their otherwise thinly spread presence in the field in order to adopt a more offensive operational posture to prevent insurgents from gaining momentum in advance of the fighting season. The stakes are high, not least because the loss of a provincial capital, even if temporarily, will have significant repercussions for the political standing of the National Unity Government. On a positive note, since my last briefing (see S/PV.7591), the active presence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Da'esh has been confined to a small area in the east of the country, following operations by Afghan security forces, with international military support.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Those are encouraging, but only first, steps in a long road towards self-reliance. With regard to the security situation, we can expect a difficult fighting season. The Taliban, emboldened by their military successes in Kunduz and elsewhere, will continue to test the Afghan security forces across the country, including as we speak, from Helmand in the south, to Baghlan province in the north. Yet in this first year of independent command, the Afghan security forces have largely held their own in the face of continuing high rates of attrition. The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces are undertaking efforts to adapt and improve. They are absorbing the lessons from Kunduz and elsewhere, including, we hope, as they relate to the use of armed militias.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“In 2015, the Government met the International Monetary Fund goals under the recently concluded staff-monitored programme, as well as domestic revenue-collection targets. It avoided the liquidity crisis it faced in 2014. And the Government has now stated its clear intention and taken preliminary steps towards putting an end to the pervasive culture of graft in the armed forces, the civil service, the banking sector and in public sector procurement. The Government's engagement with it neighbours, bilaterally and through initiatives such as the Heart of Asia Process and the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, for the purpose of regional economic integration has begun to bear fruit, inter alia, with the launch of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline project.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“In addition, the latest weather forecast suggest that some areas of the country may be affected by drought this summer, thereby increasing Afghanistan's humanitarian vulnerabilities. Low levels of growth have resulted in high unemployment. The hundreds of thousands of young people who seek to join the work force each year confront the absence of jobs and complain of corruption in public and private life. That combination fuels not only the impulse to migrate, but also lays a foundation for social volatility. However, that picture is mitigated by the Government's effort to implement its reform agenda, as articulated in the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework, to create jobs.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“For 2016, survival will be an achievement for the National Unity Government. Some may criticize that benchmark as being low. Yet Afghanistan must overcome each and every one of those five hurdles to avoid severe consequences. Survival cannot mean inaction or treading water; it means active engagement in confronting those challenges. On the economic situation, we acknowledge that there was a failure to appreciate the shock of the withdrawal of the international community at the end of 2014. In 2012, decisions on the future of Afghanistan assumed the continuation of an annual growth rate of 8 per cent and that the exploitation of Afghanistan's abundant mineral resources would drive economic development. It is now clear, however, that neither would occur. The World Bank now expects low economic growth, off a low base.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“Mr. Haysom: In 2016, Afghanistan is being as severely tested as it was in 2015, by the task ofmanaging its difficult transition, with its interrelated political, economic and security challenges. To survive 2016, the National Unity Government will need to overcome five distinct hurdles, namely, a contracting economy characterized by low growth and high unemployment; an intensifying insurgency, regarded by some as an eroding stalemate; and an increasingly fractuos and divided political environment. In addition, Afghanistan will need to secure significant medium-term financial support from the international community at the Warsaw and Brussels conferences this summer. Finally, it will need to achieve progress towards sustainable peace, without which all the other gains will be threatened.”
2016-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7645 (2016) · source
“We stand by our call for a track-I dialogue - namely, direct, face to face negotiations between representatives of the Government and the Taliban leadership. We are encouraged specifically by the offers made by Pakistan, the United States and China on 9 December to support such a process. UNAMA supports all efforts to establish a peace process. We continue to offer our good offices in any facilitative role, while recognizing that any peace process must be Afghan-owned and led.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“On humanitarian affairs, United Nations humanitarian agencies will engage with the Taliban, again as with the Government, to promote humanitarian access to health care for those in need, wherever they are in Afghanistan, while ensuring protection for those who deliver such aid, especially in regard to polio immunization. On political issues, we will continue to meet with the Taliban, with the knowledge and support of the Government, to explore possible entry points to a peace process and ways to conceptualize and promote the best format for talks to build trust and confidence in a proper political engagement. During 2015, we have floated several such proposals for talks and other initiatives, which, unfortunately, failed to find traction.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“There is no other way for insurgent groups to demonstrate a commitment to the welfare and prosperity of their fellow citizens than to search for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The reliance on violent conflict to achieve political ends places a question mark over their intentions. In 2016, UNAMA will continue to support the Afghan Government and people in laying the foundations for peace. As part of its broader efforts, UNAMA will continue to pursue its three track approach to engagement with the Taliban on human rights, humanitarian access and political engagement. On human rights, we will engage with the Taliban, as with the Government, on the issue of protection of civilians and on women's and children's rights. We will continue to promote respect for and adherence to international human rights and humanitarian law.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“Afghanistan needs to find a political route to peace. After some promising developments earlier this year, most notably with the July talks in Murree, peace efforts reached an impasse as the Taliban leadership appeared to fragment and strains reappeared in Afghanistan/Pakistan relations. The events in Kunduz also caused some to question whether the time was ripe for peace talks. This loss of momentum was disappointing, but peace processes rarely move forward in a linear fashion. \We welcome the reiteration, made on 9 December in Islamabad, by the Afghan Government of its commitment to a peace process. I call upon the Taliban, which has not yet committed to entering into a peace process, to reciprocate the Government's commitment by stepping forward to directly engage with the Government.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“UNAMA will be encouraging donors to invest in Afghanistan's reconstruction and security, rather than facing the costs of integrating immigrants In the long term, the single development that would allow for material progress towards a stable and self- reliant Afghanistan would be an agreement among Afghans as to the arrangements by which they can live together in peace and harmony. Beyond the immediate suffering being inflicted upon the Afghan people, the war is impeding efforts to bring the political and economic progress that ultimately will ensure stability. Substantial human and material resources are being blocked or diverted on account of the insecurity. This situation cannot continue indefinitely; sooner or later the financial resources currently available to the country will decrease.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“In 2016, the international community will make critical decisions on the level and type of assistance that it will continue to offer. In Warsaw, NATO countries will pledge their further military commitment for four years, while in Brussels the donor community will pledge its renewed civilian assistance. The international community, although committed to supporting Afghanistan, must make difficult choices as events elsewhere in the world compete for international attention and limited resources. For that reason, they will need to be assured not only that their assistance meets evident needs, but that it will have a tangible impact. In particular, Afghanistan must show that it is commited to tackling corruption, making the necessary governance reforms and generating hope for the future, which will decrease the rate of emigration.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“The ANSF may be stretched to capacity but, for the most part, they are holding their ground. That does not ignore the need for improvements to ANSF functioning, with a particular focus on logistics and administration, and remedial measures to boost both morale and diminish rates of attrition, as well as continued international support for its attempts to build its own air support capabilities. Afghanistan, as a sovereign nation confronting countless challenges, has made it through its first post-transition year, an achievement in itself. But in 2016, it is vital that the National Unity Government demonstrates increasingly its effectiveness, not only to the Afghan people but also to donors, on whom it is largely dependent for financial, material and technical assistance.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“I would also like to draw attention to the ground-breaking ceremony, held just last week in Ashgabat, for the launch of the Turkmenistan- Afghanistaanakistaanndia natural gas pipeline, which will supply energy-hungry Afghanistan, Pakistan and India with natural gas from Turkmenistan. That is a noteworthy development, showing as it does just what can be achieved when Afghanistan and its neighbours work in partnership. On the security front, the ANSF have shown resilience in the face of an intensified insurgency. Certainly, the temporary loss of key district centres and the provincial centre of Kunduz city were worrying developments and revealed major ANSF shortcomings. However, almost all of the district centres have been retaken, as has Kunduz city.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“When it took office in 2014, the Government faced a significant year-end financial fiscal gap. In 2015, domestic revenues have increased and the Government is confident that it has averted a second fiscal crisis, albeit that this was managed primarily by failing to expend budgeted funds for development. I commend the Government for continuing to put into place the building blocks for long-term economic improvement, including through an increased commitment to promoting regional economic integration. On that note, we welcome the recommitment by the members ofthe Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process to shared objectives at the recent ministerial-level meeting in Islamabad.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“The United Nations maintains its view that there is no viable alternative to the National Unity Government, a point that, encouragingly, much ofthe Afghan political opposition also appears to recognize, as evidenced at the gathering ofpolitical critics that took place in Kabul just three days ago. We encourage a continued dialogue and outreach - within Government and outside - to ensure a greater unity of purpose, notably from the political elite, which is necessary for public confidence, governance reforms and military morale. On the economic front, the Government is pressing forward with its reform agenda, as articulated in the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework and its thoughtful implementation plan. Economic growth, although low, is actually projected to increase in the next years.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“While the challenges are of such a scale and complexity that any Government would be tested in its efforts to meet them head-on, there has been progress nonetheless. On the political front, the National Unity Government has held together and is advancing its agenda, including that of implementing the terms of the September 2014 political agreement, as well as attempting to professionalize the civil service. An example of progress would be the submission today of the second and final set of recommendations of the Special Electoral Reform Commission. I look forward to the finalization of that process, which will allow for an electoral calendar to be set and will mark another step towards restoring public confidence in the electoral institutions and the democratic process.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“On the political front, the National Unity Government has at times struggled to project the necessary national unity and has seen the level of its public support diminish markedly. An increasingly vocal political opposition has emerged, drawing on the anxiety generated by the perceived security deterioration and economic contraction. As a consequence of this situation, many Afghans are anxious about the future. Some evidently feel that they have no choice other than to leave the country in search of economic and security opportunities elsewhere. While we must acknowledge those realities, we also must take note of the many significant steps being taken to keep Afghanistan on the path to stability and greater self-reliance.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“On the economic front, the fiscal gap between the revenue raised and spent by the Government would remain of concern. Poverty is no less prevalent, and the economic contraction has led to high unemployment and its attendant frustration, particularly among youth. Corruption has yet to be overcome. On the security front, there was overall deterioration as the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) grappled with an intensified conflict, but with much reduced international military support. Civilians, as ever, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, as casualties rise at an ever increasing rate and more people have been displaced from their homes by the conflict.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“Mr. Haysom: I would like to describe briefly the situation in which Afghanistan finds itself at the end of the first year of its transformation decade, and to frame the challenges it faces in 2016. The international civilian and military Withdrawal at the end of 2014 coincided with a political transition and confronted Afghanistan with a triple set of challenges - economic, security and political. The National Unity Government, itself a product of political crisis, inherited a weakening economy, an empty treasury and a war that it needed to fight with decreasing levels of international military assistance. None of those circumstances were of its own making. Indeed, a difficult year was expected. As President Ghani himself put it 12 days ago at the ministerial meeting in Islamabad, Afghanistan would be fighting for its survival in 2015.”
2015-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7591 (2015) · source
“It allowed the United Nations to examine how it could best align its own projects with Afghanistan's priorities and focus on institutional strengthening and capacity building. It is our hope that the report will be useful to the Council in its future mandate deliberations. I conclude by expressing my appreciation to Ambassador Tanin, for whom this is the last Council debate in his capacity as Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. I have appreciated his advocacy for his country and his constructive engagement.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“UNAMA will continue to engage, in the background, with the Government, the Taliban, neighbouring countries, and the international community to promote a process that will allow Afghans to find an arrangement by which they can live in peace. With regard to an inclusive peace process, UNAMA welcomes the recent launch of Afghanistan's National Action Plan on resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security, which will promote the participation of women in any national reconciliation process. As requested by the Council, UNAMA, on behalf of the Secretary-General and in full consultation with the Government of Afghanistan and donors, has conducted an examination of the role, structure and activities of all United Nations entities in Afghanistan. Discussion clarified the needs and expectations of Afghanistan.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“A war-weary Afghan population is clamouring for peace and deserves it. The threats faced by Afghanistan do not all emanate from its own territory. Many of the insurgents originate from neighbouring countries. It is entitled to call for international support, particularly from the region, in dealing with them. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the region and other stakeholders to prioritize support for a peaceful and secure Afghanistan. In this regard, UNAMA calls on all neighbours to play a constructive role in suppressing the threat of terrorism, including but not limited to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and in promoting an inter-Afghan peace process.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“A series of bombings in Kabul in early August precipitated a spike in anti-Pakistan sentiment and a hardening of rhetoric from the Afghan Government, including the President. The President complained that the hand he had extended to Pakistan in respect of mutual assistance in dealing with terrorism in both territories had not been reciprocated. He called on Pakistan to curtail the insurgency, notably that of the Hakkani network operating from Pakistani territory. After an exchange of high-level visits, including that of Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz, the level of accusation and counter-accusation has diminished and undertakings have been exchanged to renew constructive collaboration towards the ultimate objective ofa stable Afghanistan. I reiterate my call for direct engagement between the Taliban and the Government.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“This has challenged the ANSF's ability to maintain the ground that it occupies or to hold on to it once it has retaken contested sites. As predicated in earlier briefings, we anticipate the intensification of the violence in the country to continue through 2015. This underscores the importance of renewing a viable peace process. As noted by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2015/684), the real progress in launching such a process was suggested by formal talks between the Taliban and a Government delegation in Murree in July. However, it appears that peace talks are on hold, first as a result of an internal succession dispute within the Taliban following the unexpected announcement of Mullah Omar's death, and secondly, as a result of a hiatus in Pakistan and Afghanistan's collaboration to create an inclusive Afghan-led peace process.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“The Mission also encourages the Government to continue its efforts to implement the national plan on the elimination of torture, and in particular urges the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It welcomes the stated intention of the Government to take the first steps to that end at this session of the General Assembly. This year's conflict has been one ofthe most intense faced by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). However, while they are once again proving their mettle and resilience, as a number of analysts have observed, insurgents have demonstrated a capacity to mass large numbers of fighters in isolated areas.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“We trust that the Government's civilian casualty mitigation policy will incorporate all of the elements set out in UNAMA'S mid-year report on the protection of civilians, in particular in relation to the transparent investigation of civilian casualty incidents. UNAMA stands ready to assist the Government of Afghanistan in this regard. UNAMA also continues its dialogue with all parties to the conflict in order to reduce the toll of the conflict on civilians, increase protection and respect for basic human rights, and ensure humanitarian access to all parts of the country.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“The monitoring of civilian casualties by UNAMA's Human Rights Unit, it should be noted, has been recognized as a model of best practice both within and outside the United Nations. I say this because its finding - notably on responsibility for the violence - have been contested by parties to the conflict. Anti-Government elements continue to cause the majority of civilian deaths and injuries, although casualties caused by Afghan security forces continue to rise. UNAMA is encouraged by recent statements made by President Ashraf Ghani that he will take official steps to reduce civilian casualties.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“At the sixth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, held the day before the senior officials meeting, the region affirmed the need for greater economic cooperation, integration and connectivity. The logic that informs the recognition that economic growth and stability in Afghanistan benefit the entire region was universally acknowledged, as was the recognition that the problems of the region - such as the transboundary traffic in narcotics and people - cannot be resolved by one country alone. The conflict continues to take a horrid toll on Afghan civilians. In the first eight months of 2015, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented the highest level of civilian casualties since it began keeping records.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“This is necessary to give confidence to donors ahead of critical meetings in Warsaw and Brussels in 2016, at which donor commitments are expected to be renewed. It should, however, be noted that decisions to commit funds to Afghanistan beyond 2017 will be made not at these conferences in 2016, but in capitals in coming months. Before then, the Government will need to deliver on its agreed performance indicators, and most notably indicators that demonstrate that corruption is being effectively tackled. Afghanistan has benefited from exceptional levels of development assistance, even as global demands on aid budgets have multiplied. Participants at the senior officials meeting agreed on their mutual responsibility to ensure that this aid is more effectively targeted and delivered.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“I therefore encourage the Government to build a consensus around this issue before it makes its final decision. Electoral reforms are critical for the development of the country's democratic foundation and they should be a source of stability, bringing people together, not dividing them. A senior officials meeting of the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework process - the first since London - was held in Kabul in early September. It was judged by the participants to be a success. It proved to be an important element of the bridge between past donor commitments and future pledges to meet Afghanistan's need for ongoing support. The meeting, during which a new mutual accountability framework was established, provided an opportunity for the whole-of-Government to establish its commitment to a credible reform agenda.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“I continue to encourage President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to finalize the appointments process, particularly those of governors, Minister of Defence and Attorney General. The Government has also made progress in addressing the issue of electoral reforms by establishing the Special Electoral Reform Commission, which was one of the key commitments of the National Unity Government. The Commission, of which one of my deputies is a non-voting member, has already tabled its first set of recommendations. The Cabinet has proactively endorsed seven and returned three for further study. The recommendation to change the electoral system will have, in particular, far-reaching consequences for the country's future political landscape.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“Shortly after my last briefing, many points of friction emerged within the National Unity Government and between the National Unity Government and elements of the political elite, driven by deteriorating security and economic conditions, among other things. Although neither of these were of the Government's making, charges of inaction and miscalculation surfaced in the media. Since then, there have been a number of positive developments, including signs of progress in the functioning of the National Unity Government. With a few exceptions, all senior-level national posts have now been filled and both the Council of Ministers and Cabinet are active.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“Mr. Haysom: When I last briefed the Council (see S/PV.7467), I observed that Afghanistan continued to need the support of the international community, as well as the sustained attention of the Security Council, as it faced down its difficult economic, security and political challenges. I remain firmly of that view. Afghanistan's path to stability and self-reliance cannot be taken for granted. The current refugee exodus reflects the despondency of many Afghans. Afghans have clear memories of their recent but violent past, face an opaque future and now keenly monitor their environment for signs of international disengagement or, more hopefully, of domestic stabilization. A clear signal of continued international support will mitigate the uncertainty fuelling that exodus.”
2015-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7526 (2015) · source
“Just as the voices for peace are growing louder, so too are those who believe that peace is neither possible nor desirable or that the focus should be on war. It is thus critical that the international community as a whole, and the regional neighbours in particular, send the same message to all involved, unambiguously and forcefully. The time to begin direct peace and reconciliation talks IS now. UNAMA supports a direct engagement between the armed groups and the Government, has attempted to facilitate its realization and will continue to do so in full consultation with the Government. I would finally like to express my hope that, in the holy month of Ramadan, Afghans will be able to come together to worship in peace.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“While the Government has repeatedly stated its readiness to engage in direct talks with the Taliban, what is still missing is a clear indication from the Taliban that they are ready to engage directly with the Government. Without that direct engagement, no meaningful progress towards peace will be possible, a point that I continue to stress in my conversations with Taliban representatives. Conference pronouncements have been useful in clarifying positions, but can never provide a format for a systematic engagement between empowered representatives on the conditions for, the agenda of and the barriers to an enduring peace. In short, a direct engagement is necessary for a negotiated agreement. With leadership, peace is within reach. However, the intensification of the conflict is eroding the atmosphere for constructive negotiations.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Indeed, the essential ingredients for a peace process are present: a protracted Violent conflict with little prospect of a military Victory for either side combined with clear signs of a growing interest in a peace process. A conference hosted by the Government of Qatar in early May reaffirmed the appetite for peace felt by a wide range of Afghans, showing the potential for progress to that end through dialogue. Since then, there have been several similar meetings in various locations, most recently in Oslo last week, which I attended. Those events have confirmed that Afghans want an end to the ever-present violence that does so much harm and shows no signs of abating.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We anticipate having a report ready for the Council by the time of its September meeting on Afghanistan. Peace would have a major positive impact on the capacity of the Government to address its economic, security and political challenges. In the long term, peace is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Unless Afghans can find a way to live together in harmony, Afghanistan's political and security institutions and its economy simply may not be sustainable. Failure would have no beneficiaries. Despite the disturbing security trends, or perhaps even as a consequence of them, there has been a renewed interest in peace efforts to resolve the conflict. Last March, I spoke ofa unique alignment of circumstances that could be conducive to fostering peace talks.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“The upcoming senior officials meeting of the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, coming in less than three months' time, presents an opportunity to demonstrate real progress on the mutual commitments of donors and Government to supporting the Government's reforms. In reference to the request by the Security Council that the Secretary-General initiate an examination of the role, structure and activities of all UnitedNations entities in Afghanistan, I am pleased to say that we have now agreed with the Government to establish a commission, composed of representatives of the Government, the international donor community, UNAMA and affiliated agencies, funds and programmes, co-chaired by UNAMA and the Government. The terms of reference have been shared with the members of the commission, which will commence its work shortly.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“The United Nations looks forward to a decision on the date of the next elections, as well as action to implement the commitment to electoral reform. Those steps will go a long way towards reassuring Afghans that the democratic institutions and processes are able to fulfil their proper roles and to meet public expectations. The most difficult aspect of the national unity Government partnership has been to effect appointments. With those now largely now completed and the Cabinet in place, we expect to see a more effective functioning of the Government. Now is the time for a surge in the delivery of public services, the fulfilment of election promises and the implementation of the reforms set out in London and promised in the ministerial lOO-day action plans.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“As of this morning, 21 provincial governors have been appointed, and there has been agreement on other significant appointments. After long delays, the Government has committed to appointing the electoral reform commission within a week and to providing clarity on the electoral calendar within a month. The term of office of the lower house of the National Assembly, the Wolesi J irga, was due to end today, without the election for the new members having taken place. The lack of clarity on the future of the current Wolesi Jirga had caused consternation, with the potential for public discord. Fortunately, just three days ago, President Ghani decreed an extension of the Wolesi Jirga until elections can be held. Despite political tensions, Afghan institutions were able to work together to find solutions on sovereign issues.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Humanitarian assistance is often impeded by the continued insecurity and, lamentably, humanitarian actors have been targeted. The United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian support to those affected, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will work to increase levels of trauma care and meet the short-term needs of the increasing number of those internally displaced. UNAMA will also continue to advocate with all parties, including the Taliban, to strengthen measures to ensure the protection of civilians. On the political front, there has also been modest progress. Since I last briefed the Council in March (see S/PV.7403), all the members of the Cabinet have been appointed, even though one remains to be confirmed.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source