Security Council

5932^nd Meeting (PM)

welcoming outcome of paris conference for afghanistan, Security Council endorses

key elements identified as essential for peace, prosperity

 

The Security Council this morning welcomed the outcome of last month’s Paris Conference in support of Afghanistan, which raised more than $20 billion in pledges for the country’s development strategy and strengthened the partnership between the Afghan Government and the international community.

In a presidential statement, the Council endorsed the key elements identified in the 12 June Paris Declaration as essential for the security and prosperity of the Afghan people, including the importance of holding free, fair and secure elections in 2009 and 2010; ensuring respect for human rights and the provision of humanitarian assistance; and the need to improve aid effectiveness in order to ensure that the benefits of development were tangible for every Afghan.

Today’s statement was adopted in the wake of Wednesday’s open discussion, which followed a briefing to the Council by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (see Press Release SC/9392).  Read out by Le Luong Minh ( Viet Nam), Council President for July, it welcomed the commitment by the Government of Afghanistan to promote security, good governance, the rule of law, human rights and socio-economic development and to pursue political and economic reform, including concrete steps to combat corruption.

Recalling the strengthened role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in leading and coordinating international civilian efforts in the country through an integrated approach, while reinforcing Afghan ownership, the Council called on all relevant actors to give their full support to the Mission.  It also endorsed the Secretary-General’s recommendation regarding the need for much greater substantive, administrative and security resources to enable UNAMA to fulfil its mandate.

The Council welcomed, in particular, the intention to proceed, pursuant to resolution 1806 (2008), with another expansion of UNAMA’s field presence through the opening of six new provincial offices over the next 12 months, as well as plans to improve the coherence of action by the United Nations country team in support of the Mission’s priorities.

Expressing its strong concern about the security situation, the Council stressed the need to continue to address the threat posed to Afghanistan’s security and stability by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in narcotics trafficking and the diversion of chemical precursors.

The meeting began at 12:15 p.m. and ended at 12:17 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2008/26 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the special report of the Secretary-General on the ‘International Conference in Support of Afghanistan’, held in Paris on 12 June 2008 (S/2008/434), and on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), as well as the briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Kai Eide, on 9 July 2008.

“The Security Council welcomes the outcome of the Conference, including the generous financial pledges made in support of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the commitment by the Government of Afghanistan to promote security, good governance, the rule of law, human rights and socio-economic development and to pursue political and economic reform, including by taking concrete steps to combat corruption.  The Council welcomes the strengthened partnership between the Afghan Government and the international community resulting from such mutual pledges and commitments.  The Security Council endorses the key elements identified in the Paris Declaration as essential for the security and prosperity of the Afghan people, including the importance of holding free, fair and secure elections in 2009 and 2010, the importance of ensuring the respect of human rights of all Afghans and the provision of humanitarian assistance, and the need to improve aid effectiveness in order to ensure that the benefits of development are tangible for every Afghan.

“The Security Council also welcomes the Review of the Afghanistan Compact presented at the Conference.  In this regard, the Council reiterates its call on the Afghan Government and the international community to implement the Afghanistan Compact and its annexes in full.

“The Security Council recalls the strengthened role of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in leading and coordinating international civilian efforts in Afghanistan, through an integrated approach and guided by the principle of reinforcing Afghan ownership and leadership.  The Council reaffirms in particular the priorities for UNAMA and the Special Representative identified in paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution 1806 (2008) and endorses the views of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative on the areas that require greater attention.  The Council calls on all relevant actors to give their full support to UNAMA’s enhanced coordinating role.

“The Security Council endorses the recommendation that, in order for UNAMA to fulfil its mandate, much greater substantive, administrative, and security resources will need to be expeditiously mobilized in the areas mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General, through the relevant processes and procedures within the United Nations system.  The Council welcomes in particular the intention to proceed, pursuant to resolution 1806 (2008), with another expansion of UNAMA’s field presence through the opening of six new provincial offices over the next 12 months.  The Council also welcomes plans to improve the coherence of action of the United Nations Country Team in support of UNAMA’s priorities.

“The Security Council reaffirms once again its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.  The Council expresses its strong concern about the security situation in Afghanistan and stresses 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 and in the diversion of chemical precursors, including through the implementation of measures introduced in its resolution 1267 (1999) and other relevant resolutions of the Council.  The Security Council notes the links between illicit drugs trafficking, corruption and terrorism, and stresses the need for full implementation of its resolution 1817 (2008) on international cooperation to prevent trafficking and diversion of chemical precursors of heroin for illicit use in Afghanistan.”

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For information media • not an official record