Statement by H. E. Robert Hill, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Security Council on The Situation in Afghanistan
12 March 2008
(As delivered)
Australia notes the release of the Secretary-General’s report on Afghanistan. We welcome very much the Secretary-General’s appointment of Kai Eide as Special Representative, and Australia looks forward to working closely with him.
This open debate on Afghanistan is timely -- it arrives as the international community is giving serious consideration to its efforts in Afghanistan.
I note the upcoming Bucharest Summit, which will involve discussion of a comprehen¬sive political-military plan for Afghanistan by NATO and non-NATO troop-contributing nations, and the upcoming Paris Conference, which will provide an opportunity for a two-year review of the Afghanistan Compact.
I cannot stress enough that the international community, as a whole, has real and endur¬ing interests in Afghanistan’s stability. Afghanistan remains front-line in global efforts to defeat terrorism -- a threat affecting all countries that support democracy, secularism and moderation.
No member of the international community can afford to see Afghanistan succumb again to the forces of extremism and ideological fundamentalism.
International success in Afghanistan is clearly a measure of resolve in global efforts on terrorism and is certainly viewed that way by Al Qaeda and other extremist groups.
There have been hard-won gains on stabilisation over the past seven years, but unless we sustain and re-invigorate international efforts (not just for security tasks, but also for reconstruction and development) progress will be undone.
It is essential we continue to build the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan so that it has the tools to address the challenges the people of Afghanistan will face in the short, medium and long term.
Australia has recently increased its commitment to capacity building, with the addition of an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team to provide training and guidance to the Afghan National Army.
The Secretary-General is right to note in his report that there is a clear need for more resources and a more coordinated, integrated approach by the international community to tackle Afghanistan’s challenges
This includes coordination of our military and non-military efforts, and coordination of our efforts across different provinces and regions. Not only NATO and its ISAF partners, but also the UN and other international actors.
We must all be prepared to work toward the same objectives to achieve real success, especially when addressing complex issues such as counter-narcotics.
It also means more commitments without caveats, and greater focus on deploying resources to where the stabilisation challenges are most acute (i.e. the south).
Strengthening UN engagement in Afghanistan is crucial to progress on stabilisation and establishing the longer term conditions for peace and security. UN needs to increase its focus and commitment to Afghanistan.
We encourage UN engagement, not just in Kabul but also at the provincial level, including importantly through a UN presence -- UNAMA and UN agencies -- in the south, including Oruzgan.
Special Representative Eide will have the important task of communicating to the people of Afghanistan the strong commitment of the UN and its members to the people and the Government of Afghanistan, and our united efforts to foster stability and development throughout the country. As the Secretary General notes in his report, “The guiding principle of UNAMA’s activities is to reinforce the Afghan leadership and strengthen international cohesion in support of that leadership”.
In partnership with the Afghan Government, Mr Eide also has a key role in providing leadership and direction to the efforts of the UN especially to ensure effective coordination of international humanitarian and development activities and their extension to all parts of the country.
Australia is making a major contribution to the international community’s efforts in Afghanistan – through military and non-military contributions. We have some 1,000 troops focussed in Oruzgan province working in partnership with the Dutch forces.
We have committed $450 million in reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 and we are examining options for an increased Australian police presence.
thank you