Summary: 9 November 2009, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union by H.E. Mr. Anders Lidén, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, at the General Assembly Plenary Debate on the situation in Afghanistan, United Nations
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Armenia align themselves with this statement.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes the conclusion of the presidential electoral process and congratulates President Hamid Karzai on a second term in office.
This autumn we have seen important developments in Afghanistan. The first elections to be organized by the Afghan authorities in several decades took place. The European Union has supported these elections, and the Afghan institutions responsible for conducting them, throughout the process and will continue to do so. Lessons should be learned from this round of elections. The EU stands ready to assist Afghanistan to review and improve the electoral system, especially in view of elections next
year, while noting that addressing some of the issues related to the electoral system will require attention in the longer term as well.
On October 27, the foreign ministers of the EU took an important decision when adopting a Plan for strengthened EU action in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The plan of action is also endorsed by the EU Heads of State and Government. The Plan reflects the strategic importance that the EU attaches to the region. The EU will increase its efforts strategically, politically, financially and through contribution of technical assistance in order to help turn the development in a positive
direction.
The EU expects that a credible and competent government that addresses the major challenges facing the country will be formed without delay, while promoting the national unity in order to regain legitimacy in the eyes of the Afghan people. The European Union is ready to engage early and substantially with such a government, on the basis of the EU's Plan of Action.
Mr. President,
The annual resolution on the situation in Afghanistan is an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its support for the Afghan people on its path towards peace, security and democracy. The European Union is strongly committed to continue our support to these efforts, in a spirit of mutual commitment, and to the role played by the UN in Afghanistan.
We thank Germany for its initiative again this year and for managing this resolution so well. The end result reflects both the progress that has been achieved and the challenges remaining in Afghanistan as well as the international community's unanimous support for the Afghan Government's efforts to consolidate a stable and democratic country.
The European Union expresses its continued strong support for the Secretary-General, his Special Representative and all UN personnel for their important work in assisting Afghanistan despite the tragic loss of life during the suicide attack on UN personnel in Kabul on 28 October. The EU salutes half a century of UN commitment to Afghanistan and hopes that it will be possible, following its security review, for the UN presence there to return to full strength. The European Union understands the
difficult security situation under which the UN operates in Afghanistan and supports the need to ensure the safety of the UN staff accordingly and looks forward to further discussions on proposals from the Secretary-General in this regard.
Following the completion of the elections and with a new government in place, the EU looks forward to the Government of Afghanistan rapidly addressing the challenges facing the nation by developing a reform agenda with concrete commitments to the Afghan people. Such an agenda should include improving governance and fighting corruption as well as addressing security and improving rule of law.
The EU also looks forward to the international conference that will offer an opportunity for the new Afghan government to lay out its priorities, plans and commitments. The UN should have a prominent role in that conference. For the international community, it will be an occasion to review and reaffirm its engagement in Afghanistan. Jointly, we should agree on new goals, benchmarks and timelines in order to formulate a joint framework for our work towards the common goal of an Afghanistan
living in peace and security.
The European Union Members States are deeply involved in Afghanistan and the EU is a key contributor to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The EU and its Member States are spending close to one billion Euros a year on civilian efforts in Afghanistan. The EU Member States troop contribution to the UN mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) amounts to approx 30 000, which is the heaviest EU military engagement in a long time.
The focus of the international military presence in Afghanistan is on safeguarding a stable security situation to make development possible. Maintaining security is currently a shared responsibility between the Afghan National Security Forces and the international community. Ultimately, our highest priority should be to enable Afghan National Security Forces to carry out this responsibility on their own. The EU concurs, needless to say, with the view that everything possible should be done to
avoid civilian casualties.
Building Afghan capacity and strengthening national ownership in the civilian sectors, remain at the core of the EU's engagement in Afghanistan. The EU will increase its support, inter alia, in the areas of good governance, rule of law, including justice, and the fight against corruption and we urge the next Government of Afghanistan to give priority to the achievement of progress in those areas, not least at the sub-national level. Further, we underscore the need for concrete improvements in
the protection of human rights, including the rights of women, and stand ready to support the new government in this regard.
The framework for political, social and economic development in Afghanistan is the Afghan Compact and the Afghan National Development Strategy and the principles agreed at the Paris and Hague Conferences on Afghanistan. The EU will further enhance and improve its contributions to Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, through a common approach, as well as bilaterally by individual Member States.
Without doubt, stability, security and development in Afghanistan are closely linked to the overall situation in the region. The EU strongly supports the development of a coordinated approach at the regional level and enhanced cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours, especially Pakistan. The EU particularly acknowledges the key role of Pakistan for the stability in the region. We welcome the progress that has been achieved in the bilateral dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan,
as indicated in the last Secretary-General's UNAMA report (S/2009/475).
The EU will concentrate its efforts on strengthening state capacity and institutions to promote good governance, human rights and efficient public administration, especially at the sub-national level. The EU will focus on strengthening the rule of law, by assisting in the building of a civilian police force through EUPOL. We will also support economic growth, especially through rural development and improved regional cooperation.
The EU strongly supports UNAMA in its important role as coordinator of international efforts. We recognise Member States' responsibility to assist UNAMA in performing this task. Additional UNAMA provincial offices are a welcome contribution.
Mr. President,
The EU reiterates that the primary responsibility for the development of the country lies with the Afghan government and people themselves. I would like to assure you that the EU will continue to play an active role in assisting Afghanistan on its road to security, stability and prosperity, in close cooperation and coordination with UNAMA and other international actors.
I thank you, Mr. President.
* Croatia and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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