Statement on behalf of the European Union by H.E. Ambassador Sanja Štiglic, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations
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Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegroas well as the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
First of all, let me thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate.
The European Union welcomes the latest report of the Secretary General on the situation in Afghanistan and the briefing given by the Under-Secretary-General Guéhenno. We support the recommendations on UNAMA’s future activities, especially the strengthening of UNAMA’s central role in coordinating the overall international effort in Afghanistan, in close co-operation with the EU and ISAF. Let me add that we welcome the appointment of Kai Eide as Special Representative of the UN SG in Afghanistan. We look forward to working closely with him. We look forward to the UNAMA mandate renewal, which will reaffirm the international communities support for increased international cohesion in our collect efforts to support the Government of Afghanistan.
The European Union reaffirms it's commitment to long-term support for the people and government of Afghanistan and the core principles of promoting Afghan leadership, good governance, responsibility and ownership, and fostering the development of a democratic, secure and sustainable Afghan State with respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The European Union supports the initiative by the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board in Tokyo on 5-6 February to arrange an international conference in Paris in June to review progress in implementation of the Afghanistan Compact, reaffirm the commitment of the international community to Afghanistan and discuss the way forward. In this context the European Union would like to underline once again its strong support for a comprehensive approach. The European Union calls on the Government of Afghanistan to make further progress on human rights and good governance, including through establishment of an independent Senior Appointment mechanism and the implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy and the approval of a media law consistent with freedom of expression. The European Union remains committed to working with the Government of Afghanistan to strengthen its human rights institutions and mechanisms. The European Union recalls its urgent appeal to halt any future executions and to re-establish a de facto moratorium on the use of the death penalty and to enhance its implementation of transitional justice action plan.
Mr. President,
The European Union underlines it's continued engagement in Afghanistan, including through the bilateral cooperation programmes of EU Member States, as well as through EU's assistance strategy, which contains substantial multi-year commitment until 2013, and focuses on governance and rule of law, particularly on the judiciary and police, and on rural development and health. The European Union looks forward to the finalisation, launch and implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and welcomes the participatory process this has involved to date.
The European Union reaffirms its support for elections in Afghanistan. The EU remains committed to working with the Afghan Government to ensure free and fair elections in 2009/10. The EU reaffirms that it is for the Afghan Government to decide the format and timing of the elections. We call on the Afghan Government to ensure such decisions are made in good time to allow for adequate preparations.
The European Union welcomes the progress of the EU police mission in Afghanistan towards full deployment at central, regional and provincial level. The mission is supporting the development of the Afghan police force under local ownership, respecting human rights and operating within the framework of the rule of law. The EU remains committed to addressing the multiple challenges lying ahead in close cooperation with the Afghan authorities and international partners. The European Union expresses its readiness to consider further enhancement of its engagement, particularly in the field of police and wider rule of law in line with the adoption by the Afghan authorities of the National Justice Programme.
The European Union, underlining its overall coherence in objectives with UN and NATO on the basis of Afghanistan Compact, reaffirms its readiness to closely work with UNAMA and ISAF, inter alia through EUPOL Afghanistan, in order to strengthen overall coordination of the international community in Afghanistan. The European Union will continue to follow developments with regards to Afghanistan closely, including at the forthcoming NATO summit in Bucharest.
The European Union will keep its policy towards Afghanistan under review in the coming months, in advance of the Paris conference.
Thank You.
*Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
