|
UN:
UN ENVOY URGES SUSTAINED SUPPORT TO TACKLE AFGHANISTAN'S SECURITY
CHALLENGES
:15/10/2007 (MaximsNews Network)
|
UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 15 October 2007 –Security
remains a major challenge for Afghanistan, the United Nations envoy to the
strife-torn nation said today, urging troop-contributing countries to resist the
temptation to reduce their commitments with the caution that “now is not the
time to wobble.”
Tom
Koenigs, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, told
the Security Council that, although the violence has subsided in the past two
months, the number of violent incidents was up 30 per cent from last year.
“The
sad result is a significant increase in the numbers of civilian casualties –
at least 1,200 have been killed since January this year,” he stated, noted
that the UN has recorded 606 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and 133 suicide
attacks compared to 88 by this time last year.
Mr.
Koenigs, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said
it is imperative that the protection of civilians remain at the forefront of
efforts in the country, and noted the concrete steps taken by the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the United States-led Operation Enduring
Freedom on the issue.
“Failure
to secure the population’s support will not only protract the conflict causing
further devastation, but also hold the country’s development hostage to
violence, and undermine the legitimacy of our efforts,” he stated.
Mr.
Koenigs emphasized that for the time being ISAF represents the most capable
defence of the government against the violent insurgency that has plagued
Afghanistan, which has this year witnessed some of the worst violence since the
fall of the Taliban in 2001.
While
the Afghan National Army is expected to be 70,000 strong by the end of 2008, he
warned that “numbers are not a measure of capability” and also cited the
“poor standards” of the Afghan National Police. Hampering the Police’s
development is resistance in the Ministry of Interior to principles of
accountability and transparency, he said.
The
Special Representative also stressed the need to address the “twin
challenges” of governance and outreach. “Only good governance, led by senior
leadership within the Government, and delivered through both the civilian and
military arms of the State, will end the culture of corruption and impunity that
has dangerously eroded public confidence to date.”
He added
that “for the dangers of weak governance, one needs to look no further than
the 34 per cent increase in opium production in 2007.”
Against
such a challenging backdrop, Mr. Koenigs did point to “clear signs of
progress,” including the passage by Parliament in recent weeks of legislation
governing political parties, government structure, and property, as well as a
new law protecting the independence of the Afghan media.
In
addition, the recent formation of two new political parties is “the healthiest
indicator yet that Afghans are taking charge of their own destiny,” he said.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
~~~~~
MaximsNews.com, An Independent Voice from the
U.N., provides commentary and analysis from
leading world figures: King Abdullah II
(Jordan), HRH Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein
(Jordan), Sir Brian Urquhart, Hans Blix, Amb.
Richard Holbrooke, Anwar Ibrahim, Bianca Jagger,
Dr. Nafis Sadik, Shashi Tharoor, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Noeleen Heyzer,
Masood Haider, Kerry
Kennedy, Ian Williams, Stephen Schlesinger, Sen.
Timothy E. Wirth, Marc Morial, Amb. Jayantha
Dhanapala (Sri Lanka), Amb. Pierre Schori
(Sweden), Amb. William H. Luers, Susan Roosevelt
Weld, Rory Kennedy, Mehri
Madarshahi, J. Michael Adams, Gloria Feldt,
Jeffrey Laurenti, Rodney D. Smith, Ashley
Bommer, Rory
O'Connor, Genevieve Stamper, Max Stamper and
others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MaximsNews®
LLC
NEWS NETWORK FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
MaximsNews Network® LLC is a Global News Network reaching over 30,000 in the International Community. It is associated with MediaChannel.org and Globalvision News Network, global news and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 135 countries.
Established in 1999.
The views expressed are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of MaximsNews®
LLC.
MaximsNews.com
U.N. ® LLC www.MaximsNews.com
| MaximsNews@MaximsNews.com |
Please
contact us about Republishing:
Syndication@MaximsNews.com ©Copyrights 1999 - 2007, MaximsNews® LLC. All rights
reserved.
|
