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

“Our Penal Code is one among various domestic laws addressing the abduction and kidnapping of children. Those measures have been complemented by President Karzai's initiative to create an inter-ministerial commission for the prevention of child trafficking in November 2003, as well as by the launch of our national action plan to combat child trafficking. Despite our progress, terrorism remains a harsh reality in the lives of our children. Terrorists have increased attacks against schools, teachers, schoolchildren and clinics. Attacks on schools and school burnings have kept approximately 300,000 children from attending school out of fear of violence. As indicated in the report of the Secretary-General, between August 2006 and July 2007 alone, at least 133 incidents of school attacks were reported.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“In that regard, we call on our international partners to assist us in implementing such programmes and to facilitate the creation of employment opportunities for our young people. In addition, strict measures have been adopted to prevent the recruitment of soldiers under the age of 18 into our armed forces. Mechanisms are in place in our security institutions to assess and monitor new soldiers during both the recruitment and training stages to ensure that the minimum age requirement for recruitment is being met. Regarding child trafficking, our Government has established a special task force to prevent children from being abducted and falling victim to traffickers. Since 2002, 429 cases of child trafficking have been reported, from which 329 children have been rescued.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“We remain firm in our commitment to ensure the security and well-being of our children at every stage of their lives. Afghanistan is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols; on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. National legislation has been enacted to implement the Convention and its two Protocols. With the conclusion of our nationwide child demobilization programme, 7,444 underage soldiers recruited by illegal armed groups have been demobilized. As a next step, we have put in place reintegration committees and vocational schools in many provinces to reintegrate former soldiers into civil life.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“These include the creation of a monitoring and reporting mechanism to provide accurate and timely information on grave violations against children in war and of the Working Group to develop concrete recommendations on child protection in country-specific situations. Nevertheless, it remains a grim reality that children continue to be subject to grave violations in conflict situations worldwide. Today's meeting is of particular importance to Afghanistan as a country that has suffered from decades of armed conflict that has had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable part of our population, namely, children. Nevertheless, since 2001, we have achieved considerable progress in promoting and safeguarding the rights of our children.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Allow me to begin by joining previous speakers in congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. We wish you every success in steering the work of the Council to a successful conclusion. We extend our appreciation to Panama for convening today's debate, which provides an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring the protection, rights and well-being of children in armed conflict. We also thank Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary General, and Ms. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF, for their insightful briefings, delivered this morning. Since the adoption of resolution 1612 (2005), a number of important steps has been taken to ensure the protection of children in conflict situations.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“I would like to express my country's gratitude to our international partners for their ongoing commitment to Afghanistan. We remain confident that together we will fulfil our commitment, our common vision of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. In conclusion, I would like to pay special tribute to Mr. Tom Koenigs for his tireless efforts during his tenure in Afghanistan as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“In that regard, allow me to express our appreciation to all of those countries that have committed troops and resources to ISAF for the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan. Afghanistan greatly values the ongoing role of the United Nations and the efforts to secure peace and stability in the country. We welcome the expansion of the presence of UNAMA to additional areas of the country as a clear sign of United Nations efforts to reach out to various parts of the country. I also wish to seize this opportunity to express my delegation's appreciation to the Secretary-General for his personal engagement and commitment to improve the situation in Afghanistan, as illustrated by his visit to Kabul in June and by his initiative to convene the high-level meeting on Afghanistan on 23 September.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“If we are to accomplish tangible results across key pillars of the Compact, we must ensure greater coordination of international assistance to Afghanistan. We call on our international partners to increase the level of coordination and cooperation among themselves and with the Afghan Government. Enhanced coordination will result in greater unity of assessment, unity of approach and unity of action. In that regard, we commend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for its continuing commitment to implement the effective coordination of the international community's efforts with Afghanistan. We are also grateful to the Council for its adoption of resolution 1776 (2007), extending the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force for an additional year.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Now that we have reached a turning point in the effort to achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, the time has come for us to intensify our focus on the implementation of the Compact. Additional measures are necessary if we are to ensure that the goals of the Compact are met within the designated timelines. In that context, we acknowledge the need to exert greater efforts to improve the effectiveness, accountability and utilization of development assistance. While expressing gratitude to our international partners for their assistance to Afghanistan, we emphasize the need to ensure delivery of pledges in a timely manner. Also essential is the need for increased financial assistance in achieving our development goals.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Why this menace remains of concern to Afghanistan and the international community can been attributed to a combination of factors. It has become evident that eliminating the scourge of narcotics from our society and the region is an endeavour unattainable by Afghanistan alone. Real progress towards reduction and elimination requires a more robust effort from the transit and consumer countries. Greater focus should also be given to breaking the link between the production and trafficking of illegal drugs and the financing of terrorist activities. In adopting the Afghanistan Compact, we committed ourselves to a second phase of cooperation with our international partners in order to consolidate our achievements.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“In that regard, I am pleased to announce that we are preparing to host the upcoming international meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the city of Herat on 19 October. This meeting will be the first international gathering to be held in one of Afghanistan's historic provinces. The Afghanistan-Pakistan jirga that took place just over a month ago was the most recent among numerous meetings initiated by Afghanistan to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in order to jointly address the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and throughout the region. We have every reason to believe that that assembly will yield the anticipated results. We also look forward to the second session of the jirga to be held in Pakistan in the near future. Another major challenge is narcotics.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Regional cooperation is indispensable for success in our efforts to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan. There is a greater consensus in our neighbourhood on the notion that the advent of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a precondition for the security and prosperity of all countries in the region. This year we maximized our efforts to consolidate relations with our neighbours and the wider region in the areas of security, trade, investment, border cooperation and counter-narcotics. The convening of the sixth meeting of the Joint Coordination Body (JCB) in Kabul on 3 October was an important step in that regard. As a country that once served as a land bridge connecting cultures, countries and civilizations, Afghanistan is surely but gradually reassuming its role in promoting trade and development in the region.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Therefore, this threat can only be overcome if addressed across its regional and international dimensions. Consistent with our belief as expressed in the past, we remain convinced that tolerating the presence of sanctuaries and terrorist infrastructure will only broaden the scope of terrorism". As part of the initiatives to ensure long-term stability, Afghanistan continues to focus on reconciliation as a measure to encourage non-terrorist Taliban to refrain from subversive activities and join the process of building a prosperous Afghanistan. Such measures, which take place within the framework of national reconciliation, are welcomed by our people. In this regard, we are working with the 1267 Committee to update and improve the quality of the consolidated list.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“In this regard, we call upon on our international partners to ensure greater military coordination with Afghan security forces during combat operations in order to prevent the loss of civilian lives during counter-terrorism operations. All measures must be implemented to avoid harm to civilians during armed hostilities. Furthermore, more must be done to address terrorism in its regional and international dimensions. The presence of terrorist infrastructure outside of Afghanistan's territory is a source of continuing concern to Afghanistan and the region. In the printed version of his address to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, President Karzai emphasized "that we were the prime victim of terrorism and that terrorism was never, nor is it today, a home- grown phenomenon in Afghanistan.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Meanwhile, it has also become evident that addressing terrorism and improving security in Afghanistan will not be achieved by military means alone. While the military campaign remains an important pillar in the fight against terrorism, we must also redouble our efforts on all aspects of a comprehensive strategy to achieve long-term security and stability. We must focus more on expediting the delivery of basic services and creating employment opportunities through large scale reconstruction and development projects, in order to bring about real change in the lives of our citizens. In doing so, we will prevent the possibility of subversive elements enjoying local sympathy.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“We have also taken action to strengthen the sanctions regime against terrorists, in accordance with resolution 1267 (1999). Just last month, Sayeedur Rahman Haqani, the mastermind behind numerous suicide bombings in various parts of the country, was listed on the consolidated list of the 1267 Committee at the request of the Afghan Government. Improving overall security in Afghanistan is dependent on a variety of factors. Ensuring a fully efficient and operational National Army and Police is vital to our fight against terrorism. Despite substantial progress in reforming our security institutions and increasing the size of our National Army and Police, we call for continued assistance in strengthening and enhancing the training of our security forces.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“That is why our security forces continue to serve in the most difficult of conditions alongside forces of our international partners in order to consolidate security throughout the country and stop the explosion of violence. Over recent months, we have made substantial progress in weakening the command and control structure of the terrorist networks in Afghanistan. Joint combat operations by Afghan and international forces resulted in the capture and elimination of an unprecedented number of commanders of the Taliban and extremists. As a case in point, the deaths of Mullah Akhter Osmani and Mullah Dahdullah at the beginning of this year were among numerous achievements in the fight against terrorism. In this regard, we remain concerned over the increased use of foreign extremist elements in the campaign of terror against our people.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“The carnage was a stark reminder of the continuing challenge facing the people of Afghanistan as they seek to live in peace and security. Additional attacks have come in the form of increased use of sophisticated explosive devices, abductions and intimidation, and daily attacks on schools and health centres, and on Government officials and humanitarian aid workers. Terrorists have also resorted to the brutal tactic of using human shields during counter-terrorism operations, which constitutes the main cause of loss of civilian lives. I should like to reaffirm here that such heinous acts will in no way weaken our resolve to achieve our stated goals.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“That is why we continue to focus on defeating terrorism and improving security, strengthening the rule of law and governance, enhancing the reconstruction process, and eliminating the menace of narcotics as our top priorities. Terrorism is the main challenge facing us. Recent events of the past two weeks are a clear illustration of the ongoing campaign by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan that is aimed at destabilizing the situation. In their most recent acts of sheer brutality, terrorists carried out suicide bombings in the frontier town of Spin Buldak and in the Afghan capital, targeting civilians and members of the National Army and Police. At least 80 civilians lost their lives in suicide attacks in September.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Such coordination will be fundamental to achieving the vision of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Significant gains have been made in Afghanistan since the signing of the Bonn Agreement, six years ago. Thanks to the support of the Council and other partners in the international community, Afghanistan no longer serves as a base for international terrorists; rather, it has become the frontline from which countries have joined hands in the fight against terrorism. We have regained our legitimacy among responsible members of the international community. We are continuing to make steady progress in consolidating our democratic institutions. At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that daunting challenges continue to confront a stable and prosperous Afghanistan.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“The meeting, which brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives of the 22 States members of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) of the Afghanistan Compact and various international organizations, was another opportunity to assess ways of enhancing greater coordination of international efforts to strengthen peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. We were pleased with the outcome of the meeting, which attested to the overwhelming consensus among Member States on the need to keep Afghanistan among the top priorities of the international community and the United Nations. We would also like to welcome the unity with which participants reiterated the need for improved strategic coordination in four key areas, namely, security, counter-narcotics, regional cooperation and governance.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“Allow me to begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of October. I also wish to express our appreciation for the convening of today's important meeting. We are grateful to Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his detailed briefing. I should also like to express my delegation's appreciation to the Secretary-General for his recent report (S/2007/555) on Afghanistan, which offers a comprehensive overview of the overall situation in the country. Less than a month ago, we gathered at a special high-level meeting on Afghanistan that was co-hosted by the Secretary-General and President Karzai and was held prior to the General Assembly's general debate at its sixty-second session.”
2007-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5760 (2007) · source
“We remain resolved to achieve the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of this Council dealing with terrorism.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Furthermore, I am also pleased to inform the Council that, subsequent to the second preparatory meeting of the Jirgah commissions held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on 3 May, it was decided that the Peace Jirgah of tribal and community leaders from both sides of the border will be convened in the first week of August 2007. In the face of ongoing threats posed by international terrorists, a more robust effort on the part of Member States, the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional organizations is required to meet the challenge of combating terrorism. My delegation notes with satisfaction the increased coordination between the three counter-terrorism committees of the Council. To conclude, I would like to express our steadfast commitment to the combat against terrorism.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Our efforts alone, no matter how robust and effective, will not suffice without an equal effort from regional actors. We continue to maintain constructive cooperation within regional and bilateral mechanisms to effectively combat terrorism in Afghanistan and the region. Consultations continue between Afghanistan and Pakistan within various frameworks. The Ankara summit between the heads of State of the two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which took place on 29 and 30 April, provided another opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in the combat against terrorism. We remain confident of the summit's successful outcome. We also welcome the initiative of the G-8 to facilitate enhanced collaboration between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“In that regard, we are pleased to note the intention of the Executive Directorate to conduct a follow-up visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, in the coming months. The visit will offer another opportunity for us to provide a first-hand account of our counter-terrorism measures, particularly in the areas of anti-terrorism legislation, border control and practice, as well as police and law enforcement. It will also be useful in assessing and identifying areas where technical assistance is required to strengthen existing counter- terrorism legislation and mechanisms within the relevant institutions and agencies. Regional cooperation is indispensable to eliminating terrorism from Afghanistan and the region, given the cross-border nature of our security challenges.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“The Monitoring Team held constructive meetings with senior officials at the Ministries of Defense, Justice, Foreign Affairs and Interior. Additional meetings were held with the head of the National Reconciliation Commission and members of both the National Security Directorate and the National Security Council to discuss issues related to updating and improving the quality of the consolidated list. We are certain that the recent visit of the Monitoring Team will help the 1267 Committee to update and improve the list to reflect the new developments in Afghanistan and in the region. We commend the Counter-Terrorism Committee for its continued assistance to States to strengthen their counter-terrorism legislation through its Executive Directorate.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Afghanistan welcomes the Committee's recent progress in updating its guidelines and the adoption of Security Council resolution 1730 (2006), which calls for the creation of a focal point within the Secretariat to receive delisting requests from States. The adoption of resolution 1735 (2006) was another important initiative, as it seeks to improve the quality of the consolidated list. Country visits by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee are one of the most effective means of monitoring implementation measures and dialogue with Member States. We were pleased by the outcome of the visit of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee to Kabul, Afghanistan, from 8 to 15 this month.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“In its firm determination to combat terrorism, the Government of Afghanistan has undertaken a series of substantial measures at the national, regional and international levels towards the implementation of the relevant international conventions and resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly dealing with terrorism. We have submitted two national reports to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) and are in the process of preparing a third report. We have also presented a report to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). The 1267 Committee sanctions regime remains an essential tool of the Security Council in the combat against terrorism.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“The horrific events of the past few days are a stark reminder of the continuing campaign of the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremists in their effort to destabilize the country. Defeating terrorism remains a precondition for achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. The prevailing security challenges will not weaken our resolve to eliminate that scourge from our society and achieve our stated goals with the support of our international partners. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan condemns international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, whenever and for whatever purpose.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“Those attacks are targeting a wide spectrum of society: school teachers, clerics, health workers, educational institutions, our national army and police, as well as personnel of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and coalition forces. Moreover, increasingly brutal tactics, such as the targeting of civilian populations, suicide bombings and beheadings, have become prevalent in recent months. Just two days ago, a vicious suicide attack was carried out in the southern province of Gardez, killing 14 civilians and wounding more than 31 bystanders. That heinous act took place subsequent to two other attacks conducted in Kandahar and Kunduz provinces that took the lives of 10 civilians, three German ISAF soldiers and 11 officers of the Afghan national police.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“In that regard, we are pleased to note that in recent years the Security Council has increased its vital role in achieving that objective. Such measures have come in the form of adopting additional Council resolutions related to international terrorism, including resolutions 1624 (2005), 1730 (2006) and 1735 (2006). We welcome such measures and remain committed to working together with Member States and the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations to ensure the implementation of the relevant resolutions of both the Security Council and the General Assembly on this issue. Afghanistan remains a prime victim of terrorism, as terrorist attacks committed by the enemies of peace and stability in Afghanistan continue to disrupt the daily lives of our people. The level of terrorism-related violence has increased since last year.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“As this is the first time that I take the floor during this month, I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of May. We commend you and your delegation for the excellent manner in which you have led the work of the Council. We are also thankful to the Chairpersons of the counter-terrorism Committees established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), resolution 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) for their comprehensive briefings on recent activities undertaken to fulfil the mandates of their respective Committees. The adoption of a global counter-terrorism strategy by the General Assembly in September 2006 was a significant step forward towards strengthening the resolve of the international community in addressing the global threat of international terrorism.”
2007-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5679 (2007) · source
“I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the sustained support of the international community for our efforts aimed at achieving a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. In conclusion, we would like to thank Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan, and the members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for their tireless efforts in carrying out their important mandate.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“In that context, we welcome the intention of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to expand its presence to additional provinces in Afghanistan, as an important step towards further strengthening United Nations activities in Afghanistan. As we have now entered the critical phase of State-building, it is even more imperative that we maintain the current level of international consensus on Afghanistan and intensify our efforts to overcome the remaining challenges. We look forward to continue to work with our international partners to achieve our shared objectives. We are more committed than ever before to realize the vision set out in the Afghanistan Compact.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Eliminating that menace from the region will require a concerted effort by the international community. For our part, we have initiated a series of substantial measures to that end. The National Drug Control Strategy forms the basis of our counter-narcotics endeavours. It should be noted that the successful implementation of the Strategy will only be realized if we are able to provide other modes of legal economic activity. Regional cooperation will be key to overcoming that common threat. In that regard, we underscore the need for an equal effort on the part of transit and consumer countries, in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility. We pay tribute to the United Nations for its central role in leading international efforts to implement the Afghanistan Compact.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“While expressing our sincere appreciation for the support of the international community over the past five and half years, it is worth mentioning that Afghanistan has received far less assistance from the donor community in comparison to other post-conflict countries. We therefore reiterate the need for increased and sustained assistance to meet the benchmarks of our National Development Strategy and the Afghanistan Compact. In that context, we believe that better coordination of donor assistance will be beneficial in achieving greater transparency and tangible results. The fight against narcotics remains a top priority of Afghanistan, as it poses a threat to the stability and security of Afghanistan and the region, given its nexus with terrorism.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“As the principal mechanism mandated to coordinate the efforts of Afghanistan and the international community in the implementation of the interim National Development Strategy and the Afghanistan Compact, the Joint Coordinating and Monitoring Board (JCMB) has proved its importance. My delegation therefore underscores the need to further strengthen the role of the JCMB, with a View to improving the effectiveness of international aid and promoting greater international engagement. No matter how intense or skilful, our efforts alone will not be sufficient to enhance the capacity of our State institutions to meet the needs of the people.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“The Conference will offer another opportunity to further enhance regional cooperation in achieving security and development in Afghanistan. Apart from security, another area that requires due attention is the social and economic development of the country. The inextricable link between development and security necessitates a particular focus on accelerating the pace of implementing development and reconstruction projects throughout the country. That will in turn have a positive impact in creating employment opportunities and providing basic services to achieve substantial and sustainable progress in improving the daily lives of the people. In that regard, particular attention should be given to areas affected by conflict.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Afghanistan continues to maintain high-level and constructive contacts with the Government of Pakistan with a view to improving security along the border region. These interactions are taking place both within the framework of the Tripartite Commission and on a bilateral basis. Efforts are now under way to convene a cross-border jirga of tribal and influential figures from both sides of the border. In that connection, we are pleased to inform the Council that the first preparatory meeting of the jirga commission took place on 13 March and that the next meeting is scheduled to convene in Kabul in the coming month. We look forward to the upcoming Third Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, scheduled to convene in Islamabad in late 2007.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“The threat posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremists is not limited to Afghanistan alone; rather, it puts at risk the stability of the region and areas beyond. We are pleased to note that that fact has finally been acknowledged by the wider international community. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan attaches great importance to the role of regional cooperation in the combat against terrorism. While commending the crucial role of the international community in providing security, we remain firmly convinced that regional cooperation will be indispensable to achieving our shared goal of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. We welcome in this respect the recent arrest of the former Defence Minister of the Taliban by the authorities of the Government of Pakistan. We hope that such measures will continue in a sustainable manner.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the recent decision taken by the United States of America, NATO allies and other international partners to increase their level of financial and military assistance to our security forces. The regional dimension relates directly to the existence of foreign sanctuaries that train, equip, recruit and indoctrinate extremist fighters carrying out attacks in Afghanistan. As indicated in paragraph 7 of the Secretary-General's report: "Many attacks appear to have been financed from abroad. According to national and international security sources, the training camps for these attacks are located outside Afghanistan." (S/2007/152) It is by now evident that unless external sources of insecurity are addressed in a comprehensive and resolute manner, our efforts to achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan may be in vain.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Improving security in Afghanistan will require a comprehensive, multifaceted approach - one which will address both the internal and regional dimensions of the problem. Internally, our national army and police lack the number of personnel required to effectively combat a resurgent enemy force. Therefore, accelerating the recruitment and training of our security forces will be crucial to achieving our intended goal of a standing army of 68,000 and an 82,000-strong police force by the end of 2008. The success of our security institutions in effectively combating a revitalized and well-equipped enemy force will depend largely on the level of international assistance in terms of financial, logistical and technical support.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“As such, it is safe to state that we have jointly underestimated the magnitude of the challenges facing Afghanistan. Therefore, it is increasingly obvious that a renewed commitment on the part of the international community is required to address the remaining obstacles and consolidate the gains made in past years. The prevailing security situation remains at the forefront of our challenges. Regrettably, in 2006 we witnessed a significant surge in terrorist-related activities, occurring mainly in the southern parts of the country. Those activities have not only affected the daily lives of the Afghan people but have also had a significant negative impact on various sectors, including the health and education sectors, as well as on development and reconstruction projects undertaken with the support of our international partners.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“His report provides an overview of the current situation and of the multiple threats that we continue to face alongside our international partners. In assessing the current situation in Afghanistan, we must look back to where Afghanistan was five and half years ago. We are all aware of the many achievements that have taken place since 2001, to which we have referred on numerous occasions in statements before the Council. I shall therefore limit my comments to some of the most pressing challenges facing both Afghanistan and the international community in our joint endeavour towards achieving lasting peace, stability and prosperity in my country. Terrorism, narcotics, weak State institutions and the slow pace of reconstruction are among our main challenges.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“Mr. President, I should like to begin by congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of March and by expressing my delegation's appreciation for your having convened today's meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. My delegation would also like to thank Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Afghanistan, and Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their informative briefings. We are pleased to have Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, among us for today's discussion. My delegation is grateful to the Secretary- General for his comprehensive report on the situation in Afghanistan.”
2007-03-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5641 (2007) · source
“In this respect, my delegation would welcome the preparation of a report by the Secretary-General covering existing United Nations-related activities on security sector reform and including a concrete set of recommendations for future action. Equally important is the need to ensure greater coordination among donor countries and the country concerned in coping with the challenge of building national capacity. Finally, we believe that security sector reform should be addressed as part of an overall strategy to ensure lasting peace and stability in countries emerging from conflict. Equal attention must be accorded to building and strengthening State institutions and to enhancing the rule of law and good governance if we are to achieve a successful transition from conflict to peace in post-conflict countries.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Secondly, we are of the view that national ownership is an essential component of a successful and sustainable security sector reform process. In the case of Afghanistan, security sector reform is increasingly based on consensus among all segments of Afghan society. Indeed, without the lead role and cooperation of the country concerned, efforts to achieve a successful reform process will risk failure. Thirdly, we stress the need for enhanced coordination between the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations and other international actors with a view to achieving a comprehensive, coherent and integrated approach to security sector reform.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“On the basis of our experience and lessons learned, we would like to refer briefly to some of the issues contained in the concept paper distributed by the presidency as an annex to document S/2007/72. First, we must be aware of the fact that security sector reform is an endeavour that will be achieved over many years. There is no quick-fix solution. Reform of the security sector is not just about disarming former combatants or training and equipping a new army; rather, it is a long-term process that requires a particular focus on development. The objective should be to transform former combatants back into civilians. In this regard, it will be of paramount importance to facilitate the provision of long-term income-generating projects. Doing so will prevent former combatants from resorting to illegal activities.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source
“Security sector reform is a long-term process that requires a favourable atmosphere for its implementation. Our experience in security sector reform has been particularly challenging, given the prevailing security environment in the country. Continued terrorist attacks conducted by groups whose sanctuaries are located outside Afghanistan, and the nexus between insecurity and the narcotics trade, represent the main challenges to a successful security sector reform process in Afghanistan. In this connection, I would like to acknowledge the pivotal role of the international coalition and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in creating conditions conducive to the implementation of security sector reform, as well as to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.”
2007-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5632Resumption1 (2007) · source