YouSaid · the spoken record

Tanin

lines on the record: 865
first: 2007-01-31
most recent: 2021-10-15
sittings or episodes: 78
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

“Most importantly, we all share the same ultimate goal: to prepare and empower Afghans to take charge of their own destinies. In the next five years, the central goal of the Afghan Government will be preparing for the transition to full Afghan rule by strengthening Afghanistan's sovereignty and national ownership. We aim to consolidate national authority and improve the Government's capacity and institutions. We call upon the international community to ensure that every action taken in Afghanistan is in support of those efforts. The formation of a new Afghan Government is an important first step in this new beginning.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Perhaps most importantly, he has consistently worked - most recently during the elections - for closer cooperation and better understanding between all parties in and outside of Afghanistan. We thank him. With the conclusion of the presidential elections - an important but difficult milestone - Afghanistan has reached a new beginning, defined by a five-year mandate to bring Afghans closer to taking control of their own future. In his inaugural address, President Karzai outlined his plan to fulfil that mandate. He committed himself and his Administration to peace, to the physical and economic security of the Afghan people, to national participation and reconciliation, to good governance and to the fight against corruption.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Further, especially in the face of the tragedy of 28 October 2009, I would like to thank the United Nations and all of its entities, including this body, for the substantial and invaluable aid that has been extended to the Afghan people in past decades. In addition, as this is the last appearance of Mr. Eide in this Council in his capacity as Special Representative of the Secretary-General, let me offer him my own heartfelt thanks and the sincere gratitude of the people and Government of Afghanistan. He has shown tremendous dedication to the cause of peace and stability in Afghanistan and has displayed ingenuity and persistence under extremely challenging circumstances. He has pushed for a stronger United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and for practical steps towards real progress in Afghanistan.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“I would like to first congratulate you, Mr. President, for assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of January and thank you for convening this first debate of the new year As we are beginning a new year, I would also like to welcome the new members of the Council. Let me take a moment to thank Japan for its work in 2009 as a lead country for the issue of Afghanistan in the Security Council and to welcome Turkey to that role in 2010. I look forward to working closely with them this yean I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his presence in the Council and his remarks today and for his most recent report on Afghanistan (8/2009/674), and in particular for making Afghanistan one of his priorities and for the personal attention he has dedicated to Afghanistan in past months.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“As I mentioned on Monday at the 40th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, eight years ago we were debating how to build what did not exist. Today we are debating how to take what we have built and make it better. That is a substantial achievement. Nevertheless, violence still threatens the lives of Afghan civilians. International military forces should take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of civilians, and we have a shared responsibility to condemn with the utmost severity any attack by the Taliban, Al-Qaida or their allies that targets civilians or results in civilian deaths. We must enforce the rules of war that bind us all and make it clear to our enemies that targeting civilians will only alienate them further from the international community and from the population they seek to control.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We appreciate the steadfast condemnation voiced by the Security Council in response to terrorist attacks around the world, and in particular the Council's strong and unwavering support for UNAMA following the appalling attacks in Kabul on 28 October. Groups that deliberately target civilian populations should continue to be strongly condemned in this Organization, and their unwillingness to obey even the most basic rules of combat should strip them of any legitimacy in our eyes. The blood of Afghans has been continuously spilled amid 30 years of local, regional and global power struggles. In 2001 we undertook to rebuild this shattered country and ensure that it could never again be used as a launching pad for regional or international terror.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We appreciate the increased sensitivity that has been shown in response to concerns about the conduct of searches and arrests, and we support other strategic changes that have been proposed to improve protection of civilians. Moreover, we stress the need for an increased emphasis on training the Afghan National Security Forces. Afghans are eager to take increased responsibility for the security of their country and the protection of their people. Unfortunately, a lack of capacity and resources continues to hobble our progress; we hope to address this with the international community in the coming years.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“However, they have higher expectations of the international community. Afghans want to see their Government and our international partners acting as their protectors. When we fail to protect and respect the Afghans, the Taliban and their allies use the people's disappointed expectations to strain the partnership that is so central to this fight and damage our ability to earn the trust and engagement we need to succeed. We should adopt a strategy that values the protection of people, respects their lives, rights and property, and enables positive and constructive interaction with local communities. We fully support the new NATO strategy, which emphasizes the protection of civilians and introduces important follow- up mechanisms to ensure accountability.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The human tragedy is obvious: from January to August this year, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded the deaths of 1,500 civilians in the country, an increase of 24 per cent over the same period in 2008. Sixty- eight per cent of these attacks can be attributed to the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations. This percentage has grown steadily as the terrorists rely increasingly on bombs and indiscriminate attacks. The political costs are more subtle but equally damaging. The Taliban's main tactic is to encourage the alienation of the international community from the 3] Afghan people. The people of Afghanistan know from past experience exactly how brutal and repressive the Taliban are, and they show consistent resistance to them.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“It is estimated that as a result of terrorist activities more than 5,000 people were killed, injured or kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2008 alone. These groups cannot hope to defeat the world's greatest armies with their military strength. Their strength lies rather in their brutality and viciousness, which they use to lend an atmosphere of control and inevitability to their fight. The Taliban will never be able to provide security, governance or development. Their goal is not to build an alternative State; their goal is to prevent any State from being built. Civilian casualties in this fight are both a human and a political tragedy.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Now, children walk into markets with bombs strapped to their chests. Girls become targets just for trying to go to school. Aid workers are threatened specifically because they do so much good. The protection of civilians is an issue of growing importance for us all. The Geneva Conventions, signed 60 years ago, remain central to our understanding of our responsibilities in conflicts. But in Afghanistan, our enemies do not respect even these most basic rules of war. The Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups show complete disregard for human life; even more, they deliberately target anyone, civilian or military, who does not embrace their extremist philosophy. They target those with no conceivable military connections: teachers, health care workers, students on their way to school.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“I would like to thank the delegation of Austria for convening and chairing this meeting, and to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of November. Today in particular I would like to thank the Foreign Minister, Mr. Spindelegger, for making the issue under discussion such a priority, and for his presence here today. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General John Holmes for their statements. This week Europe and America commemorate the ends of two world wars, international conflicts conducted between States and empires. Since then, the nature of conflict has evolved. Where 60 years ago State actors were the central players in international war, today asymmetric warfare with non-State actors is increasingly common.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Above all, in our political pursuit of national reconciliation, we must not break the promise that we made to ourselves and to Afghan women in 2001. We cannot betray women's rights and security in exchange for a shallow peace in Afghanistan, because, in doing so, we would betray our own hope for a stable future. Instead, we must unite around the ideal of equal justice and rights for all.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In that regard, we emphasize the importance of the new focus of the international forces on protecting the population, which will help to minimize violence against women. Further, we are continually trying to improve the legal status of Afghan women and to uphold international juridical and legislative standards, for example through the review of more than 60 of the more controversial articles of the proposed Shia family relations law. The Government of Afghanistan is committed to representing the interests of all Afghans, male and female, young and old. We are encouraging Afghan women to take a proactive and vocal role in their future, as that is essential to re-weaving the economic, social and political fabric of Afghanistan.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“An infant justice system and police force do not yet have the training or the resources to adequately investigate, prosecute and punish crimes. And our underdeveloped bureaucracy has not yet acquired the capacities necessary to meet the demands placed upon it. In Afghanistan, there is not a lack of will for progress, but circumstances have proved to be a formidable opponent to its achievement. Despite these continuing challenges, Afghanistan is committed to ensuring that all women fully enjoy their rights in safety. With the help and support of the international community, we are addressing weak and insufficient governance through capacity-building and the strengthening of our institutions and our security apparatus.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The resulting danger keeps women confined to their homes out of fear for their safety and honour, further restricting their access to services and public life. Secondly, extremist ideologies of oppression have primarily threatened women over the past 30 years. Throughout the 1990s, the Taliban and other armed groups engaged in severe violence against women. Crimes against women, including sexual violence and forced marriage, were justified and protected by extremists. Unfortunately, as long as insecurity and extremism persist, Afghanistan cannot be freed from this perversion of perspective and action regarding women. In addition to those root causes, weak and fragile State institutions in parts of Afghanistan have, regrettably, restricted the Government's ability to fully protect the rights of women.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In order to fully satisfy our promise to the women of Afghanistan, we need to understand the roots of the problems as well as the situations today that frustrate our efforts. First, enduring insecurity has always played a central role in women's suffering in Afghanistan. In the past, insecurity caused a complete breakdown in infrastructure and resources, resulting in backbreaking poverty and lack of access to health care and basic education. Today, restricted access to the most insecure parts of the country perpetuates this situation and hinders progress. The Taliban is increasingly targeting civilians, particularly women and girls, to deny them access to basic services and rights. In addition, insecurity promotes a gun culture that values brute force over the rule of law.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Further, and perhaps most importantly, Afghan women now play an active role in the socio-political life of Afghanistan. Women have been appointed to high governmental posts and comprise a guaranteed percentage of representation in local and national governing bodies alike. In the most recent election, women ran for positions in provincial councils in greater numbers than ever before, and there were even two female candidates for President. More than 60,000 women were trained and volunteered as observers, poll workers and ballot counters. And, despite the increasingly turbulent security situation, more than 2 million women across the country came out to vote. Despite these positive developments, Afghan women do not enjoy the freedom and security they deserve.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The Afghan Constitution guarantees equal rights to women and representation in the Government. Afghanistan has endorsed the Millennium Development Goals, is a signatory to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, fully supports the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), and has put in place a legal and political framework that protects and promotes the rights of women. Beyond these legal initiatives, Afghan women have seen tangible improvements in their daily lives, including improved access to education, health care and basic infrastructure. Afghanistan's national action plan for women ensures that women and girls receive equal access to these resources.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“And when a nation faces substantial insecurity, women find themselves more vulnerable, more restricted and more cut off from necessary resources. The situation of women in Afghanistan became an issue of wider international interest when the Taliban first began enforcing its brutal, misogynistic social policies and Afghan women became hunted people in their own homeland. Thus, when the Taliban was toppled in 2001, it was seen at least partially as the stroke that freed Afghan women from their chains. Afghanistan and the international community made a promise to each other that what happened under the Taliban would never happen again. More importantly, we made the same promise to the women of Afghanistan. Over the past eight years, we have kept those promises to the best of our ability.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“First, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of October, and to thank you for convening this meeting so early in your presidency. There has recently been noteworthy positive momentum in this Chamber concerning the rights of women, and it is my hope that we can benefit from that momentum here today. Worldwide, women start at a disadvantage. In some countries, this means wage discrepancies and debates over harassment in the workplace. But in conflict and post-conflict situations, the substantial ills facing societies concerned are magnified with regard to women. When a society is poor, proportionally more women go hungry. When education or health care is lacking, women and girls are the first to be deprived.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196Resumption1 (2009) · source
“With that support, we can work to strengthen judicial mechanisms and decrease reliance on local, ad hoc justice systems that frequently disadvantage women. We can increase the number of women in the Afghan National Police and have more units dedicated to domestic violence. We can also do more to combat extremism and educate the public about the rights of women by publicizing and enforcing international and Islamic human rights norms. The women of Afghanistan continue to suffer from violence. However, social transformation, like political stabilization and economic development, is a gradual process that requires security and continuity. We have learned that the surest way to improve the situation of women is to provide them with education, protection and support and to give them a platform from which to speak for themselves.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“My Government will continue to enlist cultural, political and religious leaders in encouraging a proper understanding of women's Islamic and political rights, and to explicitly and publicly condemn all violence against women and girls. Impunity only reinforces patterns of violence. Afghan women need the support and protection of the United Nations, the international community and the Government of Afghanistan as they work to transform society. The role of the United Nations and the international community in that struggle should be to support the Government of Afghanistan with resources, knowledge and capacity-building. Led by this Council, we should also encourage a moral and legal awareness of women's rights, both locally and in multilateral forums, and keep the issue of violence against women at the top of the international agenda.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Millions of women have registered to vote, and educational programmes run by the Government, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Mission of Assistance in Afghanistan educate women about the voting process and their rights and opportunities as citizens. Our Constitution guarantees women at least 25 per cent of the seats in provincial councils and 27 per cent of the seats in Parliament, and women have served as governors and in the Cabinet. A growing number of women have registered as candidates; a record- breaking 328 women are running for provincial councils and two women are among the presidential candidates. Nonetheless, even if governmental mechanisms are in place to ensure equality, women are silenced within a culture of shame and, worse still, do not demand their rights owing to a lack of awareness or support.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Even in areas free of the Taliban threat, a creeping Talibanization promotes an un-Islamic, un-Afghan culture that denies women's basic rights. Afghanistan supports the Secretary-General's analysis that a central step towards preventing violence against women is to combat gender discrimination and to give women a larger role in political and decision- making processes. Afghanistan's experience shows that there are no better advocates for women's rights than women themselves, and so we must do everything we can to help them be heard. In the upcoming presidential and provincial elections, the participation of women will be crucial to success in Afghanistan. We have had some praiseworthy victories.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Persistent poverty and other symptoms of conflict have disproportionately affected women, and for the first time in the 1990s, during a bloody internecine war, physical and psychological violence was accompanied by horrendous acts of sexual abuse. The scars of those abuses continue to be seen and felt today. Women in Afghanistan still face not just sexual violence, but sexual discrimination and oppression, caused and exacerbated by enduring insecurity and the terrorist activities of the Taliban and Al-Qaida. In some particularly unstable parts of the country where the Taliban is still active or where the rule of a law is not yet strong, women attempting to work or hold office face abuse, threats and physical attacks. Other women have their rights curtailed and are forced into marriage and other exploitative situations.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Women's issues are taken into account at each stage of the national stabilization process and in national strategies, such as the Afghanistan National Development Strategy. Afghanistan has the legal and judicial mechanisms in place to achieve success. We are also party to the relevant international mechanisms, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. However, the ongoing support of the international community for Afghan efforts is absolutely necessary, both to encourage our citizens' bottom-up efforts towards success and to sustain the Government's top-down labours. We have emerged from the darkness of a long national nightmare, but we still have more work to do. Over the past 30 years, Afghans have experienced violence on an almost unprecedented scale.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Insecurity allows extremism to flourish and makes it extremely difficult for Governments and international organizations to provide even basic services to their citizens. The lack of resources and capacity limits the ability of Governments to effectively enforce protective legislative and judicial mechanisms. Without the equal involvement of half of our populations in our civil societies, economies and political systems, our nations are deeply incapacitated and our children, economies and even the stability of our countries suffer. Only eight years ago, under the brutal Taliban regime, Afghanistan had no provisions for the protection of women and human rights, but, despite ongoing difficulties, we have made significant progress, particularly in education and health care.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“First, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of August and to thank you for convening the debate on this crucial topic. I would also like to welcome the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/362) on sexual violence in situations of armed conflict, which reflects both the appalling scope and the devastating effects of this issue. Afghanistan remains fully dedicated to the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on the rights of women in conflict situations. It has become clear that the lack of a stable, secure State often leads to persistent violations of human rights, particularly women's rights.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In the name of the Afghan people, I would like to pay tribute to your work and your efforts on behalf of Afghanistan. We take note and will certainly remember that the convening of this debate was among your last official acts.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154Resumption1 (2009) · source
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who has spoken today for their support for Afghanistan, the Afghan people and the stabilization process. I have taken note of all the views, suggestions and concerns that have been presented today. The enduring partnership between the international community and Afghanistan is key to success in the country. I am particularly grateful to you, Sir, for organizing this debate on your last day as President of the Council and at the United Nations. You have been a well-known and well-respected diplomat at the United Nations, and particularly in our region for your work there earlier in your career. In Afghanistan, you are known to be a distinguished diplomat of a country, Turkey, that has cordial relations with mine.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In conclusion, we share the Secretary-General's assessment that we have an opportunity to make significant progress, if we maintain our new momentum and focus in the coming months. That effort will require broad and consistent international engagement going forward. If we can ensure transparent and open elections, increase security for the Afghan population, improve coordination and effectiveness of aid, strengthen Afghan institutions and constructively address the regional dimensions of the situation, we can clear a space on which to build a strong, sustainable Afghanistan.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Our enemies are not local, but regional, and they find sanctuary and support outside of Afghanistan. A full regional approach will be needed to combat them. We have recently begun to move towards more positive regional interaction with Pakistan, particularly through trilateral arrangements with the United States, as well as with Turkey and Iran. There have been promising bilateral and multilateral advances towards better regional understanding as well. It is our hope that all regional stakeholders can recognize the mutual advantages of a stable, prosperous Afghanistan and will be involved in helping to confront our shared challenges in a sustainable, cooperative way.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“In that regard, my Government continues to fully support the essential coordination role of UNAMA. We welcome UNAMA's strengthened mandate and applaud the courageous work of its men and women, who have accomplished so much. We also welcome the recently signed United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as it provides priorities that are in line with our Development Strategy and other national development priorities. And, finally, while the international community and the United Nations have essential roles to play in the coming months and years, Afghanistan also needs to have stronger cooperation with its neighbours. As has been widely recognized, this conflict is not limited to the borders of Afghanistan, but involves the entire region, and endangers people all over the world.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Resources need to be funnelled towards capacity-building for the Afghan Government because, as the Secretary-General's report so eloquently states, we need a lasting expansion of Government presence and not a temporary expansion of foreign presence. To address that issue, the civilian surge will be the backbone of the successful implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, because it will further support national development priorities and programmes in key sectors. In addition, improvements in subnational governance and service delivery can help disrupt the negative impacts of insecurity and provide Afghans with the incentives to engage with the stabilization process. In both those efforts, donors' political, technical and financial assistance must be aligned behind national priorities.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“It is our hope that those steps will serve to strengthen the partnership between the international community and the Afghan people and to reassure Afghans that the Government and the international community see their protection as a priority. Secondly, despite more focused and unified goals, our development efforts remain fragmented, inefficient and incomplete. Poverty in Afghanistan has increased since 2001, and unemployment is one of the biggest challenges. Governance, corruption and the rule of law still need sustained attention both from the Government and from the international community. Humanitarian and development aid should be better coordinated and more accountable.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“First, security is worsening, rather than improving, and civilians continue to disproportionately bear the costs. The Taliban have shown an increasing disregard for human life, intentionally targeting civilians, particularly women, children and humanitarian staff, and using populated areas to stage attacks on international forces in order to impose civilian casualties. As the international military force increases in strength over the summer and as security worsens in parts of the country in advance of the elections, we must be particularly careful to avoid an increase in the loss of civilian lives. We applaud the recent steps taken by NATO and by the United States to address those concerns and the recently announced improved guidelines for rules of engagement and use of air bombardment.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“In the past eight years, Afghanistan has grown from a country devoid of society, Government and infrastructure to one with thousands of miles of roads, millions of children in school and access to basic health care for 85 per cent of the population. In addition, the Government of Afghanistan has made positive developments in anti-corruption and the rule of law. The international community has helped us to build, train and equip an army and police force that can begin to protect our citizens. Kabul and a few other cities now have uninterrupted electricity, and, in a promising and historic development, Afghanistan will be agriculturally self-sufficient this year for the first time. But daunting challenges remain to be adequately addressed in the areas of security, development and regional cooperation.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“The past months, with some welcome strategic reviews by the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), have provided us with a timely opportunity to review our achievements and rethink our strategies in different multilateral arenas. Combined with increasing involvement from Afghan ministries, this has resulted in a shift towards a more unified strategic approach, focusing on an intensified civilian effort, an improvement in subnational governance and service delivery and increased alignment of international priorities with Afghan national strategies. We must continue to build on the substantial progress made thus far.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“However, we must remember that they are part of larger ongoing efforts for change and stability that go beyond the election process. The coming months should reinvigorate the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community. We should use the elections to add additional momentum to the strategic shifts that began this year. And we should unify our approach and focus on, first, the need to strengthen Afghan institutions and make them sustainable and, secondly, the need to be increasingly responsive to the growing expectations of the Afghan people, who want to see a tangible improvement in their lives.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“In addition, independent bodies like the Independent Election Commission, the Electoral Complaints Commission and the Media Commission will be responsible for providing information, logistics and oversight, guaranteeing access to media for candidates and responding to concerns and questions from the public. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General continue to play an essential role here as the international focal point, along with the Government of Afghanistan, in ensuring a transparent, legitimate and credible elections process. The upcoming elections have deservedly been the centre of attention among both Afghans and the international community.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“In terms of the campaign, the rules of the game have been defined by law and the Government of Afghanistan and other relevant bodies are working to ensure that the candidates receive security, transportation and access to the media. For the elections themselves, the essential priority is to ensure security so that people from all over the country will be able to vote. In that regard, the Afghan National Army and Police will provide the main security for more than 7000 polling stations nationwide, supported by a strengthened international force.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“This, in itself, is a huge success and reflects the enduring Afghan support for the stabilization process and the value of the partnership between Afghanistan and the international community. The elections have been planned for less than three months from now. Between now and August, we must act to ensure the transparency and fairness of the electoral process. There is a lot at stake. Afghans know that the elections are the only feasible way to build on the positive progress of the past years, but in order for them to do so the elections must be credible and legitimate. The results of the elections should serve to unite the Afghan people, strengthen Afghan institutions and provide momentum for ongoing stabilization efforts.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Let me first congratulate you, Sir, for assuming the presidency of the Council this month and thank you for convening this debate on Afghanistan. These debates offer an important opportunity to take stock of the situation and ensure that we move forward in a unified fashion. Let me also thank my friend Kai Eide for his typically insightful briefing. We welcome the Secretary- General's report on Afghanistan (S/2009/323), and are grateful for the incisive, detailed assessment of where we are now and where we are going. We are nearing a new beginning in Afghanistan. Five years ago we held our first elections after decades of a bloody power struggle. Despite the continuing terrorist activities by the Taliban and Al-Qaida, Afghanistan has made enormous progress since 2001 and our people are ready to go to the polls for a second time.”
2009-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6154 (2009) · source
“Our first constitution, in 1924, made modern education available to all. By the 1960s, we guaranteed equal rights for men and women. Afghans then survived and persevered through three decades of foreign intervention, a bloody civil war and the brutal rule of the Taliban. If we could do all of that, we can succeed in Afghanistan today, for Afghanistan has been, can be and will be once again a peaceful, democratic crossroads of our region and a contributing member of the world community. We begin the new year in that spirit of hope.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We welcome the new trilateral process involving the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan that started recently in Washington, D.C., and we look forward to a future of increased cooperation. Our neighbours will be the first to benefit from a stable Afghanistan: fewer refugees, less narcotics, more trade. Today, Afghans hope that the Security Council will continue its newly developed and refocused efforts to help us regain our footing after decades of war. Afghans still look with great hope to the international community and fully approve the extension of UNAMA's mandate in support of the Government of Afghanistan. Despite the continued challenges of terrorism and violence, despite the critics, despite the resignation and despite the doubts, we know our better history. Afghanistan began its journey towards modernization in the 19005.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“We should also continue to build the Afghan army and police so that Afghans can take a stronger role in the fight against terror. There should be greater Afghan oversight over joint operations with our international partners and an increased focus on preventing civilian casualties. We want to stress, too, that reconciliation can take place only under the leadership of the Afghan Government. The Government of Afghanistan recognizes the importance of a political solution. We negotiate with those elements of the Taliban who are willing to be reconciled, but any talks must be held with full respect for the constitution of Afghanistan and must be conducted from a position of strength. Thirdly, Afghans appreciate the new regional focus on our challenges, which protects the sovereignty of our State.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“First, we should ensure that there are free, fair and transparent elections in August. That process should encourage a protective, inclusive debate that strengthens the legitimacy of the institutions that we have already created through the Bonn process. Secondly, Afghan ownership must continue to be the linchpin of international efforts. We understand that the ultimate responsibility for our country lies in our own hands. We will do our own work. Therefore, economic development should continue to be implemented through the framework of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and the Paris priorities. We must ensure that aid and expertise are available promptly and delivered effectively, efficiently and transparently. Every penny in Afghanistan should be delivered to Afghans.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“After the Bonn Conference in 2001, the international community's light-footprint approach brought minimal engagement in Afghanistan. We have only recently refocused, so we cannot expect results immediately. It takes time to build a stable, prosperous, democratic society after more than 30 years of war. Progress is a process, completed only over time. Thus, we must stay the course. There is still important work to be done. That work should focus on the priority of a self- sustaining, functioning State that serves Afghans, for a functioning State is the strongest bulwark against terrorism. Only a democratic, stable Afghanistan will stop terror and destruction. Democracy should be strengthened, not weakened. In strengthening the Afghan State, we must have a comprehensive strategy. Today, I would like to highlight a few areas for focus.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source
“In practical terms, terrorism knows no borders. Attacks in New York, London, Mumbai and Kabul by the same groups show that the threat in Afghanistan is, indeed, a global threat. Global action is the answer to a global threat. Afghans have seen the significance of our partnership with the international community. Our biggest accomplishments - our constitution, the elections, the improvements in the Afghan National Army, infrastructure, education and health - are the projects that have received the strongest international commitment. International dedication bears fruit. But we have only just begun. In the areas where Afghans received less international attention - the Afghan National Police, governance, corruption and judiciary reform - we have not achieved all we should.”
2009-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6094 (2009) · source