PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

The next 12 months could prove critical for the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

Introducing the Secretary-General’s latest report on Afghanistan, which covers the period from July 2002 to November 2003, he stressed the need to re-energize and refocus efforts to achieve peace and stability.  While pessimists would call the situation in the country “a glass half empty”, some progress had been achieved there.

At the current critical junction, with the Constitutional Loya Jirga scheduled to start on 10 December, he continued, there was a real opportunity to consolidate the situation.  With further engagement by the international community, expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and measures to address the security situation, it was possible to achieve the goal of creating a secure Afghanistan with a solid constitution and elected authorities in place.  However, half-hearted measures could compromise the progress already achieved.

Noting that the Secretary-General’s report covered the evolution of the Bonn process, the humanitarian situation and efforts to achieve progress in development and human rights, he also pointed out that security remained a major source of concern.  There had been deliberate attacks against United Nations personnel and aid workers.  In was therefore important to review how the Organization would continue its work.

Among the positive developments was the significant growth of the Afghan economy and an increase in the number of children (some 4 million) attending school.  The central Government was making efforts to assert its authority over the regions, and reform of the security sector had begun.  The new Afghan national army now comprised some 6,500 troops and there had been changes in some senior positions at the Ministry of Defence.  Success in disarming combatants and creating the national army would depend to a large extent on the success of that reform.

Asked if any countries were preparing to send troops in connection with plans to expand ISAF, Mr. Guéhenno said the good news was that a decision in principle had been achieved on that matter.  The bad news was that so far, there had been no clear indication from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of a stronger ISAF.  Germany had set up the first provincial reconstruction team in Kunduz, and others were expected to follow that lead.

Responding to a question about the extent of United States control over the country, he said the situation varied from one district to another.  It was clear that in the whole southern belt of Afghanistan, the security situation “is not what we would like it to be”.  The situation remained difficult, despite active operations by the Coalition, in some places with support from Pakistan.  The tragic weekend incident in which nine children were killed in a United States raid was a reminder that such operations needed to be well targeted to avoid civilian casualties.  At the same time, it was important to ensure security throughout Afghanistan.

To a question about the effects of drug trafficking and poppy cultivation on Afghanistan’s stability, the Under-Secretary-General replied that those activities were a source of serious concern.  Opium cultivation was a $1 billion business, an amount that could double as the drugs were moved through the country.  That money could also be used to finance criminal activities.  Drugs obviously represented an important aspect of the security situation, apart from the activities of the Taliban and the threat of Al Qaeda.

Asked if the attacks on foreign aid workers were part of an effort to make the international community leave, he replied that certain elements in Afghanistan wanted to discourage any foreign presence in the country.  It was necessary to ensure that such elements did not have the support of the population, which already saw the benefits of the work by the United Nations on a number of fronts, including demining and education.  More than 2.5 million people had received repatriation assistance, for example.  At the same time, the Organization needed to be mindful of the security of its staff and to evaluate carefully the situation on the ground.

Mr. Guéhenno told a questioner who asked about a follow-up to the Bonn Conference that it might be useful at some point to take stock of the successes and failures of the past 24 months.  In that context, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had been discussing with its Afghan interlocutors ideas for a review of progress and strategies in order to make the necessary adjustments.  However, any decision had to reflect the needs of the Afghan people.

Asked whether, with many major missions all over the world, the United Nations was beginning to run out of troops, he replied that there was indeed a limited pool of countries prepared to contribute troops.  Peacekeeping was a labour-intensive business, which could not rely on technology alone.  Thus, troops were needed on the ground.  There was some concern that in view of all the demands on peacekeeping, the international community needed to commit itself to giving the support required.  He intended to discuss the matter soon with troop contributors, he said, adding that those who supported peacekeeping had to be made aware of the important demands in that regard.

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