AFGHANISTAN

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15 October 2007
Statement on the Report of the Secretary-General on the Situation in Afghanistan

(As Delivered) 


Thank you Mr. President, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan, Mr. Koenigs for his comprehensive report and for his continued dedication to the mission.

I would also like to extend the thanks of the United States to all the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan who have worked so hard over the course of the UN mandate to help the Afghan people build a democratic state that protects fundamental human rights, provides security and other services, and offers economic opportunity.

As in the case of past reports -- the Special Representative has brought us up-to-date on the progress that Afghanistan has made with the support of the international community and he has also kept us up-to-date on the significant challenges and threats Afghanistan still faces.

This report highlights that the international community must continue to stand united in support of the Afghan government and of the Afghan people, for success in Afghanistan. We must continue our productive efforts to re-accelerate state-building and capacity-building, help create a robust agriculture sector that will reduce the incentives to grow opium, and strengthen rule of law, security, and human rights.

We must also support the Afghan Government in exerting its authority throughout the country. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan plays a critical role in that -- whether it is helping the Afghan government fight the threats of corruption and narcotics, coordinating humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, or helping to build capacity and integrity at local level where the Afghan people most often interact with their state.

Afghanistan has made significant progress, but it is going through a critically important and difficult transition. We applaud the Secretary-General's and Mr. Koenigs' strong leadership and dedication in supporting Afghanistan's emergence as a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic member of the family of nations.

We also take great satisfaction that the SRSG reports that six million Afghan children now in school - the highest number in the country's history - and over 2 million of them are girls . . . that there has been steady improvement in economic conditions with preliminary estimates showing economic growth at 8% and a bumper wheat harvest of 4.5 million tons . . . and that there has been additional progress in the areas of health, road-building, and rural development.

Nevertheless, security is still an enormous concern and the Taliban has recently resorted to vicious measures, increasingly relying on suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices in an effort to terrorize the population and undermine the Afghan government. As Secretary Rice explained in Brussels earlier this year, "The violence we are seeing is not evidence that our strategy has failed, nor that the situation will improve in our absence; rather it is evidence of how much we are needed. It is evidence that we must do more - and do it better, faster."

Mr. President, it is vitally important that Afghanistan succeed. Afghanistan was the safe haven of today's global terrorist threat, and enabling Afghans to eliminate that threat within their borders will be a strategic victory for Afghans, for the friends of Afghanistan in the international community, and for the United Nations.

Afghans are eager to take on a greater role in their own security. As we speak, the Afghan National Army and its civilian command structure are taking on increasing responsibility in securing their borders and their people. The Afghan National Army is a respected institution in Afghanistan and it is now more than 35,000 strong, with a target size of 70,000. The Special Representative's report points out that, "increased training and mentoring has improved the army's capacity to plan and conduct joint operations with coalition forces and NATO-ISAF" and that is good news. But we must increase these joint efforts to train, mentor and equip the Afghan National Army and Police and we must provide every measure of support to the UN-mandated, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. In particular, we owe it to the people of Afghanistan to give commanders the forces and flexibility they need to bring stability, reconstruction and good governance to all of Afghanistan. Stability in Afghanistan is vital not only to Afghans, but to the security and wellbeing of all free peoples who stand opposed to terror and injustice.

The Afghan people have come a long way in recovering from the tyranny of the Taliban. It is essential that we maintain the unity and commitment of the international community to help the Afghan people complete the transition from tyranny to liberty and I am gratified that the SRSG report indicates that international support to Afghanistan has intensified.

While the international community's assistance to Afghanistan has been great, the needs are greater still. We must not slacken in our resolve to provide the Afghan people with the tools to rebuild. The Afghanistan Compact showed us the way, but progress is only possible if the entire international community digs deep to provide funds for reconstruction and experts to mentor on governance, justice, agriculture, and commerce. And with the need for more assistance, comes the need for better coordination. In this regard, it is important that we find a strong, UN envoy who, in support of the Government of Afghanistan, will coordinate international civilian efforts in Afghanistan and donor capitals.

With great challenges still ahead of us, we must maintain our resolve. The United States sees long-term assistance to Afghanistan as a strategic imperative and we look forward to continuing to work together with other members of the Council as we engage in assisting the government and people of Afghanistan.

Thank you Mr. President.

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