YouSaid · the spoken record

Mr.Saikal

lines on the record

17

first

2018-06-26

most recent

2018-06-26

sittings or episodes

1

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

1. “We are looking to the future with a degree of optimism in the light ofrecent developments concerning our peace efforts, including the announcement of the ceasefire and a possible shift in regional dynamics in support of peace. Moreover, our progress towards economic integration in the wider region, through various mega economic and infrastructure projects, continues unabated on a positive trajectory. Institutional reforms will remain a key component of our strategy for the promotion of the rule of law and our stability. In the broader perspective, we believe that these gains can best be solidified in an atmosphere in which all partners work together, in unison and cooperation, for a strategic objective that is vital to us all.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

2. “This included eradication, law enforcement and alternative livelihood measures. In the first six months alone, our counter-narcotics police force carried out 1,688 operations nationwide, seizing more than 112,500 tons of illicit drugs and destroying a significant number of drug-processing laboratories. We hope to witness more tangible progress in this effort, which will be possible only with greater cooperation among regional and international actors, including in curtailing driving factors such as the trafficking of precursors and reducing demand. We appreciate the support role ofUNODC in this effort and thank the Executive Director for leading the agencies' work in Afghanistan.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

3. “I strongly call upon the international community to fully fund Afghanistan's Humanitarian Response Plan covering 2018-2021. We thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other United Nations agencies for their tireless efforts on the ground and call on the broader donor community to join the relief efforts. By the same token, we will remain engaged in implementing our national strategy to address the lingering problem of narcotics in all its aspects. We hope to do so with a greater degree of collaboration with regional and international partners. This year, we continued to work on multiple fronts to combat this threat as a key priority in the work of the National Unity Government.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

4. “These include progress in the areas of governance, public-sector reform, local governance, economic growth, and promoting and protecting human rights. We look to international partners to recommit new support over the coming years for our stability and prosperity. We look forward to high- level participation from our regional and international partners. The Conference comes at an important time, when the level of regional and international consensus on Afghanistan, particularly on the imperative ofpeace, is at its highest point since 2001. Looking ahead, we will remain focused on other pressing priorities, such as the looming effects of the drought, with the prospect of displacing half a million people. The situation warrants immediate international attention.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

5. “Ensuring security for the elections is another important priority, and I am pleased to inform the Council that comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place for that purpose. As a final note on this issue, we reiterate that the successful completion of the electoral processes is of vital importance for our unity and political stability. The next main international event on the political calendar concerns the Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, which will be co-chaired by Afghanistan and the United Nations in Geneva in November. We look forward to presenting the highlights of the progress made against key benchmarks from the Brussels Conference, based on our national peace and development framework.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

6. “So far more than 7.3 million citizens have registered to vote, demonstrating their firm conviction that democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law are the bedrock of our stable future. Our hope and expectation is to ensure that these elections are transparent, credible and inclusive, in accordance with our people's demands. We are pleased that a number of young talented figures have stepped up as candidates. To that end, reform measures are under way in the Independent Election Commission and the commission on electoral complaints. Moreover, a list of new nominees for the position of Chief of the secretariat of the Independent Election Commission was presented to the leadership for consideration and approval.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

7. “I repeat: to that end, we wish to reaffirm our overriding commitment to ensuring Afghanistan's centrality as a platform for cordiality and win-win cooperation for all. Earlier this month, President Ghani attended the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Qingdao, China. Together with SCO member and observer States, we reiterated our position that expanding regional connectivity and overcoming the nexus of transnational crime and terrorism are fundamental for stability and prosperity in the wider region. With the revitalized SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, we look forward to increased cooperation with that important forum. Four months from now, we are scheduled to hold our parliamentary and district council elections. Preparations are under way for these, along with presidential elections next year.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

8. “The framework has the conceptual ingredients to shift dynamics towards greater trust, confidence and mutual cooperation, but an agreement is only as good as the will there is to implement it. And we, for our part, cannot overstate our commitment to its terms in letter and spirit and expect Pakistan to do the same. In the broader context, we have expanded dialogue for greater cooperation with a number of countries, including those in our immediate region, as well as our Central Asian partners. The past three months have also witnessed developments that we hope will strengthen regional consensus in support of the joint strategy of Afghanistan and its international partners. To that end, we wish to reaffirm our overriding commitment to ensuring Afghanistan's centrality as a platform for cordiality and win-win cooperation for all.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

9. “With regard to regional cooperation, a number of high-level reciprocal visits between Kabul and Islamabad have led to a new framework in the form of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity. The seven agreed principles cover a number of important areas, including counter-terrorism cooperation and Pakistan's support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, visited Kabul on 12 June, and important discussions were held with Afghan leadership, focusing on the sincere, effective and timely implementation of the Action Plan through concrete measures. Last week, a senior Afghan delegation visited Islamabad again in order to generate positive momentum on the Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity.”

   2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

10. “That will only be possible by ensuring that the overall outcome conforms to the wishes and expectations of all Afghans, across the full spectrum of society. To that end, ensuring transparency in all stages of the peace process and preventing any degree of misuse will remain important. It is also essential that peace efforts serve to complement and reinforce social cohesion and consensus on other national issues, including the consolidation of democracy, in particular through the forthcoming elections. Furthermore, preserving fundamental human rights, particularly of women, and ensuring justice for victims remain of paramount importance.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

11. “The success of the peace process will depend on a number of factors. We need to further strengthen our unity, continue to keep our people informed and involved at all stages of the process, ensure effective management of future ceasefires and potential negotiations, guarantee genuine implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, and work to further improve regional and global consensus on the international effort in Afghanistan. It is imperative that our zeal for peace be based on political, social and diplomatic efforts, coupled with security considerations whose only aim should be to strengthen our unity and stability. We must make sure that opportunities for peace are seized, not lost or turned into new challenges.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

12. “We thank the Council and all its members forjoining our call to the Taliban to re-engage in the ceasefire and take part in peace talks without preconditions. We appreciate efforts from within our region and beyond in helping to create an environment conducive to a ceasefire during the religious holiday. During the ceasefire, our security forces acted to defend our territorial integrity and continued operations against elements of foreign terrorist groups, including Da'esh and Al-Qaida, inter alia. They played a major role in the elimination of Mullah Fazlullah, head of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorist group, which was an important development that reaffirmed our long- standing policy of combating terrorist groups with equal measure and focus and without any distinction.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

13. “Our announcement responded to a call by a grand gathering of around 2,500 Islamic clerics from 34 provinces who met in Kabul and condemned acts of terror and violent extremism as contrary to Islamic tenets and principles. These developments complement our revitalized peace strategy, which was unveiled at the second Kabul Process Conference and reaffirmed in Tashkent later on. The initiative once again demonstrated our willingness to make a difficult and selfless decision in favour of peace for our people. The ceasefire was mutually observed during the three days of Eid. At the expiration of this period, we extended it for an additional 10 days. Regrettably, the Taliban failed to reciprocate, and carried out terrorist attacks on a number of occasions.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

14. “Reforming our Defence and Interior Ministries also remains a priority; measures are already under way to bring a new generation of highly educated and capable officer corps in our defence and security institutions to leadership positions. The Security Council is well aware of our firm desire for an end to the senseless violence that has been taking scores of innocent lives each and every day in our country. Earlier this month, the leadership of the National Unity Government took another bold and historic step to achieve lasting peace by announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban for the end of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

15. “We completed the fourth-year review of our national security strategy at the NATO Ministerial Visit, where the security situation in Afghanistan and our reform measures were discussed. As a key outcome of the gathering, NATO partners renewed commitments to helping fund our security forces for the coming years with annual financial support. In this regard, we look forward to new pledges of support at the July NATO summit in Brussels and the potential contribution of other international partners. In line with our unremitting commitment to the security of Afghanistan and the wider region, we have moved to double the size of our commando forces and strengthen our air force, which will enhance the overall capability of our national defence and security forces.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

16. “The Taliban's so-called spring offensive caused still more deaths and injuries throughout the country, but their attacks faced prompt and at times pre-emptive action from our national security forces and hence were futile in achieving their objectives. In contrast, we reiterated our commitment to peace and to ending violence, offering the Taliban a historic chance to prove their willingness to choose a path away from conflict and destruction, with a key role being played by our Islamic clerics, peace marchers and international partners. We also witnessed notable developments in the regional context, particularly with respect to Afghanistan-Pakistan cooperation. Further, international support for securing and safeguarding our country against violent attacks remains high.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source

17. “I would like to begin by congratulating the Russian Federation on its presidency of the Security Council for the month of June and for organizing today's debate. I would like to express our appreciation for the delegation's flexibility in adjusting the date of the debate at our request. Also, we wish the Russian Federation all the best for the World Cup. I welcome the presence of my good friends, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Tadamichi Yamamoto, Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov. We thank them for their briefings. Since the last meeting ofthe Council on Afghanistan (S/PV.8199), we experienced a mix of apprehension and hope.”

    2018-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8294 (2018) · source