SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN

 

The following Security Council press statement on Afghanistan was read out today by Council President Zalmay Khalilzad ( United States):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the holding in Paris, on 12 June, of the “International Conference in Support of Afghanistan”, co-chaired by the Governments of Afghanistan and France, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the reaffirmation of the long-term partnership between Afghanistan and the international community, the aim of which is to give the people of Afghanistan a better future, including in terms of security, prosperity and human rights.  The members of the Council also welcomed the review of progress in the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the commitment of Conference participants to work more closely together under Afghan leadership to support the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), including by making generous and unprecedented financial pledges, which demonstrated continuing international resolve.  The members of the Security Council further welcomed the commitment by the Government of Afghanistan to pursue political and economic reform, to work with the international community across the board and to take leadership for its development.

The members of the Security Council welcomed in particular the commitment by Conference participants to support the central role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as defined by Security Council resolution 1806 (2008), both with regards to coordination of international efforts and coordination between the Afghan Government and the international community.

The members of the Council reaffirmed once again their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.  They stressed the need to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the narcotics trade.

The members of the Council looked forward to the publication of the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the Paris Conference, as requested in resolution 1806 (2008).

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For information media • not an official record