Statement

by H.E. Ambassador Bui The Giang,

Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam,

at the Security Council Debate on the situation in Afghanistan

New York, 19 March 2008

 

Mr. President,

I join other Council members in thanking the Secretary-General for his report and SRSG Kai Eide for his important updated briefing on the situation in Afghanistan. I also welcome Ambassador Tanin to the Council.

Mr. President,

After more than seven years since the overthrow of the Taliban regime, a new Afghanistan has emerged. Thanks to the convergence of the committed generous efforts from the international community and the resilience of the Afghan people, certain progress has been made in a number of areas, promising possible subsequent positive results in coordinating security activities, tightening poppy production control, increasing agricultural output, implementing the Mine Action Program, and cooperating with the outside world, first of all with neighboring countries.

However, we remain deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of peace and security, and the acute livelihood of the population in Afghanistan, as most notably reflected in the year 2008 being the most violent year since 2001, with more casualties and sufferings inflicted upon the Afghan people, especially women and children, let alone the many challenges described in the Secretary-General’s report. We, therefore, share the view that there can be no purely military solution to these challenges. Instead, an integrated approach and a comprehensive vision are required, involving several key factors. In this connection, we share many points raised by the Secretary-General in his report and by the SRSG in his briefing, and wish to emphasize that in socio-economic terms, it is essential to ensure the effective implementation, under the ownership of the Afghan people, of the Afghanistan Compact, the National Drugs Control Strategy, and especially the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) which identifies agriculture, energy and infrastructure as priority areas. Moreover, improving social welfare, including healthcare and education services should continue to be amongst the main priorities of the Government of Afghanistan. In this process, it is important that the Afghan authorities and people are provided with necessary assistance to enhance their capacity and pro-active participation both in decision-making and in implementing projects and programs, thereby helping increase aid effectiveness.

In the political field, reconciliation while not an end in itself needs to be part of an inclusive political process in Afghanistan. We call on leaders of Afghanistan to place peace and political stability of their country at the center of all calculations, overcome divisions, renounce violence, and advance dialogue and cooperation in the common interests of the country. This year being a critical test for Afghanistan, remarkably with the Presidential elections scheduled for August, we welcome all efforts by the international community to further support Afghanistan. We commend the upcoming special conferences on Afghanistan to be convened in Moscow and The Hague. We take a special note of the recently strengthened regional cooperation in support of Afghanistan’s economic, political and security improvement, especially the resumption of such regional initiatives as the Peace Jirga process, for we are convinced that the challenges in Afghanistan, interconnected in nature as they are, demand for a greater role of and contribution by regional partners in search of a comprehensive and sustainable solution.

We reiterate our support for the leading role of the United Nations in coordinating international civilian activities in Afghanistan. After their timely allocation of additional financial, human and security resources to UNAMA for 2009, the General Assembly and its Member States are looking to the Mission to make further progress on the ground. We support UNAMA, at the request of the Afghan authorities, in providing technical assistance for the pivotal upcoming elections and continuing its coordination with other international donors, agencies and organizations to make the best of the available resources. At the same time, UNAMA should continue to intensify its cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan as well as relevant organizations and stakeholders to fulfil its mandate. For UNAMA to accomplish its duties in the current situation, we endorse the extension of its present mandate for another 12 months. We also welcome all measures and steps being taken to avoid casualties of civilians who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the peace process.

Mr. President,

It is high time for the Afghan people to bear responsibility for their own future. With the renewed regional and international support, we expect that the coming Presidential elections will be conducted in a free, fair and secure environment, thus paving the way for the restoration of peace and security which the country so deserves. We sincerely wish the people and Government of Afghanistan every success in this process. Viet Nam, on its part, stands ready to contribute positively and constructively to this process.

I thank you, Mr. President.