YouSaid · the spoken record

Koenigs

lines on the record

73

first

2006-03-14

most recent

2007-10-15

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3

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un-security-council

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1. “Mr. Koenigs: With the incoming Afghan new year, Afghanistan remains a place of hope and challenge. Unprecedented efforts to improve governance, help development and register military gains are being put to the test. While the conflict continues in the south, with border areas in the east and south-east vulnerable to incursions and violence, the need for strategic coordination of military, political and development efforts is stronger than ever. The threat to peace has not diminished, but the joint response by Afghan institutions, by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), by donors and by the Afghan people themselves is encouraging. Coordination efforts are moving forward, but they can be improved further.”

   2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source

2. “Finally, let me once again express my gratitude for the unanimous support UNAMA enjoys from the members of the Security Council.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

3. “I have spoken on that matter to the President of Afghanistan, who has expressed the same opinion. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to reconcile the two principles for such a joint coordination and monitoring board: effectiveness and representativity. The representativity pertains to donors, troop contributors and regional stakeholders. Work is still in progress, and I will take the opportunity provided by my visit to New York to speak with some of the stakeholders in question. I have very much appreciated the fact that the representative of the United States stressed the importance of human capital development in Afghanistan. That is one of our main points to be stressed in the future, because Afghan ownership means the development of Afghan capacity in the country. We have dedicated our efforts in Kabul and the provinces to that aim.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

4. “I shall ensure that there is close coordination between those two elements of our mandate. I will certainly prioritize reasonable and sophisticated recruitment, in particular as regards our political staff in the region. In coming to the Mission, I learned that the human capital and quality of our staff is the main asset in our efficiency and success. The respect we have gained, not only in the international community but in particular among the Afghan authorities and people in general, is due to the high quality of our staff. We will do everything to maintain it, and even to strengthen it. The representative of Slovakia asked about how we will compose the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, and when it will be operational. I would be pleased if it could be operational as soon as possible.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

5. “This inclusivity might improve the security situation in those areas, because one of our experiences in the north was that, where there is an international presence, where there is a Government presence and where there is an office from our side, the security situation can improve. Nevertheless, I know that we have to assess the security situation prevailing in those provinces before we make that outreach. We will not create new regional offices, but from the regional offices we would like to reach out with small entities into those places where that is advisable. The split between the two pillars in UNAMA is more administrative than substantive in nature. Through my leadership, I will ensure that they cooperate so that human rights and gender, as overarching elements in the respective pillars, are not separated.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

6. “Yes, we will continue the active dialogue with the Government institutions at the national level and, particularly, the provincial level. Some speakers commented on our proposal for the enlargement of the UNAMA presence in the provinces. After the election, some of the locations were vacated by international assistance personnel, so some of the provinces have space which can be utilized by the agencies and by sub-offices in the field through UNAMA. We would like to use some of those facilities and co-locate with United Nations agencies already present so as to increase both the visibility of international support and assistance to the political institutions of the Afghan Government.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

7. “All speakers expressed - and we share - concerns about the security situation, violations of human rights, the inequality with regard to women's rights and issues relating to poppy cultivation and drug trafficking. Be assured that this is a major challenge for the Afghan Government, for the donor community as a whole and for the United Nations and all of its funds and agencies, including UNAMA. We will continue to develop our activities on the basis of the principle of Afghan ownership with regard to all development in Afghanistan. We will step back, behind the leadership of the Afghan Government, in each and every operation. In addition to the briefing that I gave, I was asked to explain some of the questions posed by the representative of Denmark, and I would like to respond.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

8. “Mr. Koenigs: First of all, I would like to thank Council members very much for the continued support that they have expressed, unanimously, for the peace process in Afghanistan and for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. On a personal note, I would like to thank the Council very much for the warm welcome and the support expressed for me in meeting the difficult challenges of the job that I have taken on. I appreciate very much the suggestion of the representative of Japan regarding a visit by the Security Council to Afghanistan, which would express once again the commitment of the Council, and we will do everything to prepare ourselves for such a visit.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

9. “In closing, I would like to call upon the Afghan Government to do its utmost to meet the benchmarks set out in these documents and to encourage the international community to show continuing generosity and commitment in this next important phase of the peace process.”

   2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

10. “The implementation of this mandate would require additional and sufficient security resources, including air and medical evacuation support. As the clock of the Afghanistan Compact starts ticking, the first benchmark - the establishment of a clear and transparent appointments mechanism for senior-level civil service positions - will need to be met after six months. By endorsing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness last week, the Government of Afghanistan underscored the need to harmonize its efforts and those of the international community to ensure that our common vision for sustainable peace and development is realized in Afghanistan.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

11. “As co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board to be established by the Compact, UNAMA would aim to promote Government visibility in international assistance activities and to advocate greater coherence of the overall reconstruction efforts. As the Secretary- General noted in his report, success in this endeavour will "also depend on the mutually reinforcing role and full cooperation of all stakeholders." As I mentioned earlier, it will be vital for the Afghan Government to extend its reach to underserved areas of Afghanistan. The proposals submitted for the Security Council's consideration therefore include the possibility of a modest expansion of UNAMA's field presence to accompany and support the Government in these efforts, subject, of course, to security conditions.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

12. “Afghanistan can meet those expectations only by reforming and strengthening the Government institutions necessary to develop its human capital, harness the potential of agriculture and natural resources and set conditions for the emergence of a vibrant private sector. Enhanced regional cooperation in that regard is also essential. The report before the Council outlines a number of proposals on how UNAMA, having completed its support for the Bonn process, can continue to play a role as a special political mission, providing advice to the Government of Afghanistan in particular with a View to further strengthening its State institutions. UNAMA would continue to be an integrated mission and to plan and coordinate United Nations humanitarian and development activities.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

13. “Whereas the Bonn Agreement was centred on the re-establishment of legitimate national institutions, a key challenge under the Afghanistan Compact will be to extend the reach of Government at the local level. That will require security, development, civil society and private sector actors to be more present in areas not yet touched by recovery. It will require programmes that ensure the participation of Afghans in the development of their country, while meeting the needs of vulnerable groups and poor regions. It will also challenge Afghanistan's Government to make functioning institutions of justice and the rule of law more and more a reality in the communities in which most Afghans live. It will also require the implementation of Afghanistan's new obligations to protect and monitor the human rights of its citizens.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

14. “Improved border management is also required to meet several key objectives under the Compact, from drug interdiction to revenue collection. At the Doha II Conference, co-chaired by the Governments of Germany and Qatar on 27 and 28 February, 21 States and eight international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to improved cooperation with Afghanistan on border security and border management. However, I remain concerned that the resources are not yet available to implement those proposals, including with regard to police and border police salaries. The agenda before the Government of Afghanistan and the international community is a heavy one.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

15. “However, it will require strong and sustained commitment to meet the benchmarks for DIAG, munitions and mine action prescribed in the Afghanistan Compact. The key development within the international military forces in recent weeks was the transfer of Regional Command South under Operation Enduring Freedom from a United States to a multinational brigade on 28 February in Kandahar. Once fully fielded, that force will feature robust capabilities from the armed forces of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Australia and other countries, with a deployed strength of 6,000 troops in Afghanistan's five southern provinces. That represents an increase of 50 per cent over previous levels and shows international resolve to meet the threat of terrorist-based insurgency.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

16. “Addressing security issues, the completion of security sector reform remains crucial to the peacebuilding process. The Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) programme has gained profile and momentum in recent weeks. In total, over 19,000 weapons have now been collected in all parts of the country. In Kapisa province, under the leadership of the Governor, a complete survey of those groups targeted for disbandment is being finalized, and that process will be repeated over the coming months in Farah, Herat, Laghman and Takhar provinces. Since the nationwide ammunition disposal programme began last year, over 30,000 tons of unwanted and dangerous munitions have been consolidated and destroyed.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

17. “In Farah province, the senseless killing on 4 March of Afghan engineer Mohammad Hashim, a contractor to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, has shocked and saddened the United Nations family. In Helmand and Nangarhar provinces, large-scale poppy eradication efforts have encountered determined resistance. At the same time, the Afghan Government has moved to address those threats both by policy and successful crisis management. At a seminar held in Kabul from 26 to 28 February, the National Security Council considered a blueprint for Afghanistan's national security policy. It calls for fully functional Afghan security institutions addressing internal and external threats to peace and security in an integrated fashion, under civilian supervision, and on a fiscally sustainable basis.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

18. “The perpetrators of those attacks have shown a growing intent to target civilians, Government officials and reconstruction workers, such as road-builders. The recent kidnapping of four foreigners in Helmand province and an unconfirmed report of the Taliban claiming to have killed them are also of great concern in that respect. The prevalence of such attacks in Farah, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar and elsewhere points to the persistence and even consolidation of the command and control networks of Taliban, Al-Qaida and associated groups in the region. Any resolution of that challenge will require redoubled international efforts to dismantle terrorist structures that represent a common threat to the security of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are also security concerns in provinces less affected by insurgency and terrorism.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

19. “It nevertheless illustrated the strong aspiration of Afghans to truth and justice with respect to the crimes committed over decades of violent conflict. As to security developments, the bomb attack in Kabul directed against Meshrano Jirga Speaker and former President Mojadeddi two days ago illustrated the importance that Afghanistan's enemies continue to attach to disrupting the democratic process by violent means. The attack was emblematic of national trends with regard to security, which continue to be a serious concern. The winter months of 2005 and 2006 have witnessed a rise in insurgent and terrorist attacks and more sophisticated tactics. There has been a marked increase in the incidence of larger and more deadly explosive devices, including suicide bombings, particularly in the South and East of the country.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

20. “The political agenda is also increasingly focused on justice-related issues. President Karzai has indicated his determination to significantly renew Afghanistan's Supreme Court. He has also agreed to launch the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation, together with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and myself, in the coming weeks. In the meantime, initiatives to deal with past crimes in Afghanistan are gaining momentum. In a much publicized case, a former head of intelligence in 1978 and 1979 was sentenced to death on 25 February 2006 by the National Security Primary Court for his part in the assassination of prisoners. The trial was closely followed by Afghans and was criticized for failing to conform to international standards of due process.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

21. “As to political developments, the first months of work by the new National Assembly have demonstrated the promise of Afghanistan's new institutions. Both houses have established rules of procedure and sector-based commissions. Security and development issues have been freely debated. On 27 February, the Wolesi Jirga decided to question and confirm cabinet ministers on an individual basis. The coming months will test the ability of the Afghan Government and parliament to work constructively to adopt a new budget, agree on the composition of the new cabinet and forge a legislative agenda that reflects national priorities under the new Compact. An assembly of all provincial councils in Kabul in early March showed the determination of those elected representatives to deliver early results.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

22. “In many respects, the benchmarks and time frames laid down by the Afghanistan Compact are as ambitious as, and even more wide-ranging than, those of the Bonn Agreement. By endorsing the Compact as the framework for international partnership with Afghanistan over the next five years, the Council recognized the mutual obligations and the discipline that is needed to ensure the implementation of that road map, which aims to improve the lives of Afghans. It is already clear that two priorities will be essential to the success of that agenda. First, Afghanistan's institutions must be strengthened on all levels to the point where they are effective enough to deliver basic services. Secondly, our strategy for tackling hard security challenges must evolve to meet outstanding threats.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source

23. “Mr. Koenigs: I would like to thank the Council for this opportunity to report on the situation in Afghanistan during our deliberations concerning the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The written report of the Secretary-General (S/2006/145) describes key events of the past six months, together with proposals for adjustments to that mandate. My remarks will focus on developments since Under- Secretary-General Guehenno's last briefing to the Council, on 10 February, and on prospects for the Afghanistan Compact. As the Council is aware, the London Conference on Afghanistan, which was held on 31 January and 1 February, reaffirmed the strong commitment of the international community to support Afghanistan for the next five years and beyond.”

    2006-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5385 (2006) · source