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Cablegate: Afghanistan: Instructions for Unga Afghanistan

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TAGS: UNGA UNAMA KDEM PREL MARR MOPS SNAR PHUM AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNGA AFGHANISTAN
RESOLUTION

1. The Department requests that USUN co-sponsor the
resolution on the situation on Afghanistan (para 3), to be
considered by the UN General Assembly on November 10, and
that USUN draw on the following points for use during the
discussion.

2. Begin points:

Mr. President:

The United States is pleased to co-sponsor this resolution
reaffirming the solidarity of the international community
with the government and the people of Afghanistan. In
particular, we would like to thank the German delegation
for their hard work in ensuring that this resolution
received the broadest possible support.

This resolution underscores the leading role that UNAMA is
playing as the central coordinator for all international
assistance and for ensuring that such assistance is
coordinated with military efforts. UNAMA is an essential
partner of the Afghan government as it continues to
develop its capacity to meet the needs of the Afghan
people.

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The United States commends the work of Special
Representative Eide and the UNAMA staff. We call on
member states to join us in supporting a surge in UNAMA's
capabilities with the SRSG's plan to expand the reach of
UNAMA throughout the provinces and to engage more
intensively in coordinating international assistance in
support of the Afghan National Development Strategy. We
further call on member states to support the Special
Representative's request for additional budgetary and
personnel resources, which will soon be considered by the
5th Committee. We urge the Secretariat to do everything
in its power to make sure that Mr. Eide is given the
support and resources he needs to carry out his mission.

As winter approaches, we remain gravely concerned about
the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The situation
is worsening and many lives are in jeopardy -- both from
possible food shortages and extreme cold weather. We urge
member states to respond to Afghan government as well as
UN appeals for all possible humanitarian, reconstruction,
development, and financial assistance to Afghanistan. The
United States will continue to do its part. We are the
largest donor in food assistance to Afghanistan, both
financially and in kind. We are prepared to do more.

The United States deeply regrets the accidental loss of
civilian lives. We are doing everything in our power to
ensure that ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom, working
in partnership with Afghan security forces, take every
precaution to prevent civilian casualties.

But let us be clear about the root cause of the violence
in Afghanistan. The Afghan people face an increasingly
vicious campaign of violence and intimidation carried out
by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, and other extremists groups
aimed at imposing an authoritarian government and
systematically denying them their most fundamental human
rights. These forces are systematically targeting
civilians, aid-related targets, and NGOs in an effort to
derail the establishment of democratic government and the
creation of conditions that will lead to peace and
stability. Thus, the Afghan people remain on the front
lines in the world-wide battle against terrorism and the
effort to ensure that enlightened and civilized governance
prevails over barbarism.

Mr. President, last June the international community
endorsed the Afghan National Development Strategy, and
there was an unprecedented level of pledges. This is a
clear sign of our determination to help Afghanistan
succeed. There are other positive indicators as well.
National institutions continue to grow. The National
Solidarity Program is serving more than 20,000 villages.
The Afghan National Army has nearly reached its initial
target of 70,000 personnel, and a new target of 134,000
has been set. Cooperation between the Ministry of Public
Health and the international community has enables more
than 80 percent of the Afghan population to gain access to
primary medical care.

Though the challenges in Afghanistan remain enormous, we
must continue to work together and renew our mutual
commitment to help Afghanistan succeed.

End points.

3: Begin text:
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 62/6 of 13 December 2007 and all
its previous relevant resolutions,
Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions
and statements by the President of the Council on the
situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1659
(2006) of 15 February 2006, 1806 (2008) of 20 March 2008,
1817 (2008) of 11 June 2008 and 1833 (2008) of 22
September 2008, as well as the statement by the President
of the Council on 11 July 2008, S/PRST/2008/26; see
Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1
August 2007-31 July 2008,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and national unity of
Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural,
multi-ethnic and historical heritage,
Reaffirming its continued support for the implementation
of the Afghanistan Compact of 31 January 2006, S/2006/90,
annex providing the framework for the partnership between
the Government of Afghanistan and the international
community and recalling in this regard the spirit and the
provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001, the
Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1
April 2004,
Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the
challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable
progress on security, governance and development, as well
as the cross-cutting theme of counter-narcotics, is
mutually reinforcing, and welcoming the continuing efforts
of the Government of Afghanistan and the international
community to address these challenges in a coherent
manner,
Reiterating the urgent need to tackle the challenges in
Afghanistan, in particular the increased violent criminal
and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal
armed groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, in
particular in the south and east, and the development of
Afghan Government institutions, including at the
sub-national level, the strengthening of the rule of law,
the acceleration of justice sector reform, the promotion
of national reconciliation, without prejudice to the
fulfillment of the measures introduced by the Security
Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999
and other relevant resolutions, and an Afghan-led
transitional justice process, the safe and voluntary
return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons
in an orderly and dignified manner, the promotion and
protection of human rights and the advancement of economic
and social development,
Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks, suicide attacks
and abductions, targeting civilians and Afghan and
international forces and their deleterious effect on the
stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in
Afghanistan, and condemning further the use by the
Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist and criminal groups
of civilians as human shields,
Deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence in
Afghanistan, in particular in the south and east,
recognizing the increased threats posed by the Taliban,
Al-Qaida and other extremist and criminal groups as well
as the challenges related to the efforts to address such
threats, expressing its serious concern with the high
number of civilian casualties, noting relevant statements
of Afghan authorities and high-ranking UN officials, as
well as Press statements of the President of the Security
Council in this regard, and calling for compliance with
international humanitarian and human rights law and for
all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the
protection of civilians,
Recognizing the efforts taken by ISAF and other
international forces to minimize the risk of civilian
casualties, and calling on them to take additional robust
efforts in this regard, notably by the continuous review
of tactics and procedures and the conduct of after-action
reviews and investigations in cooperation with the Afghan
Government in cases where civilian casualties have
occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint
investigations appropriate,
Noting the importance of the national Government being
representative of the ethnic diversity of the country and
ensuring also the full and equal participation of women,
1. Stresses the central and impartial role of the United
Nations in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan
and expresses its appreciation and strong support for all
efforts of the Secretary General and his Special
Representative in this regard and welcomes the leading
role of UNAMA in the coordination of the international
civilian effort, guided by the principle of reinforcing
Afghan ownership and leadership;
2. Welcomes the Declaration of the Paris Conference of 12
June, 2008 and the additional international support as
pledged, reaffirms that the Afghanistan Compact, including
the annexes thereto, remain the agreed basis for the work
of both Afghanistan and the international community,
welcomes the launching of the Afghan National Development
Strategy (ANDS), that reflects, inter alia, increased
Afghan ownership and responsibility; welcomes the Afghan
commitment to pursue political and economic reform;
3. Welcomes the reports of the Secretary General A/63/372
of 23 September 2008, S/2008/434 of 3 July 2008 and
A/62/722 of 6 March 2008. and the recommendations
contained therein;
4. Expresses its strong concern about the security
situation in Afghanistan, stresses the need to continue to
address the threat to the security and stability of
Afghanistan caused by increased violent and terrorist
activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist and
criminal groups including those involved in the narcotics
trade, and strongly condemns all acts of violence and
intimidation taking place in Afghanistan, in particular in
the southern and eastern parts, including suicide attacks;
5. Expresses in this regard deep regret at the resulting
loss of life and physical harm inflicted upon Afghan
civilians and civilians of other nationalities including
the personnel of Afghan and international agencies and all
other humanitarian workers and the diplomatic corps, as
well as upon the personnel of the Afghan National Security
Forces, the International Security Assistance Force and
the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition;
6. Stresses the need for the Afghan government and the
international community to continue to work closely
together in countering these challenges of terrorist
attacks by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist and
criminal groups which are threatening the democratic
process as well as the reconstruction and economic
development of Afghanistan, and reiterates in this regard
its call for full implementation of measures introduced in
relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular
Security Council resolution 1267 (1999);
7. Notes with concern that the security situation is
causing some organizations to cease or curtail their
humanitarian and development work in some parts of
Afghanistan;
8. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient
security, welcomes the presence of ISAF throughout
Afghanistan, and calls upon Member States to continue
contributing personnel, equipment and other resources to
ISAF and to further develop the provincial reconstruction
teams in close coordination with the Government of
Afghanistan and UNAMA;
9. Notes, in the context of the comprehensive approach,
the synergies in the objectives of UNAMA and of ISAF;
10. Notes that the responsibility for providing security
and law and order throughout the country resides with the
Government of Afghanistan supported by ISAF and the
Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, recognizes the
institutional progress achieved in this respect and the
continued coordination between ISAF and the coalition;
11. Stresses the importance of further extending central
government authority, including the presence of Afghan
security forces, to all provinces of Afghanistan;
12. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the
assistance of the international community, including
through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and ISAF,
in accordance with their respective designated
responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the
security and stability of Afghanistan;
13. Commends the Afghan National Army and the Afghan
National Police, ISAF and the Operation Enduring Freedom
coalition for their efforts to improve security conditions
in Afghanistan;
14. Welcomes the continued development of the Afghan
National Army and the Afghan National Police, recognizes
the international support provided, calls for intensified
Afghan and international efforts to modernize and
strengthen both institutions and related Government
departments with particular attention to the Afghan
National Police which continues to face challenges in its
development, and welcomes in this regard the continued
deployment of the European Union Police Mission in
Afghanistan and the Focused District Development in
In-District Reform programs;
15. Acknowledges in this context, that the Afghan National
Army and the Afghan National Police require additional
support to enhance their capability and professionalism,
including through the provision of increased training and
mentoring, more modern equipment and infrastructure, and
continued salary support;
16. Urges the Afghan authorities to take all possible
steps to ensure the safety, security and free movement of
all United Nations, development and humanitarian
personnel, their safe and unhindered access to all
affected populations and to protect the property of the
United Nations and of development or humanitarian
organizations;
17. Urges the Afghan authorities to make every effort, in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/123 of 15
December 2005, to bring to justice the perpetrators of
attacks;
18. Stresses the importance of advancing the full
implementation of the program of disbandment of illegal
armed groups throughout the country under Afghan
ownership, while ensuring coordination and coherence with
other relevant efforts, including security sector reform,
community development, counter-narcotics, district-level
development and Afghan-led initiatives to ensure that
entities and individuals do not illegally participate in
the political process such as elections in 2009 and 2010,
in accordance with adopted laws and regulations in
Afghanistan, and calls for adequate support in order for
the Ministry of Interior to increasingly assume its
leading role in implementing the program of disbandment of
illegal armed groups;
19. Welcomes the commitment of the Government of
Afghanistan to stand firm on the disbandment of illegal
armed groups and to work actively at national, provincial
and local levels to advance this commitment and stresses,
in this regard, all efforts to create sufficient legal
income-earning opportunities and calls for continued
international support for these efforts;
20. Remains deeply concerned about the problem of millions
of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war,
which constitute a great danger for the population and
major obstacle for the resumption of economic activities
and for recovery and reconstruction efforts;
21. Welcomes the progress achieved through the Mine Action
Programme for Afghanistan, and supports the Government of
Afghanistan in its efforts to meet its responsibilities
under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction, Ibid., vol. 2056, No.
35597. and to cooperate fully with the Mine Action
Programme coordinated by the United Nations and to
eliminate all known or new stocks of anti-personnel
landmines and acknowledges the need for more assistance
from the international community in this regard;
22. Stresses that regional cooperation constitutes an
effective means to promote security and development in
Afghanistan;
23. Pledges its continued support, after the successful
completion of the political transition, to the Government
and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country,
strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy
and resume their rightful place in the community of
nations;
24. Recalls the constitutional guarantee of human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans as a significant
political achievement, stresses the need to fully
implement the human rights provisions of the Afghan
Constitution, including those regarding the full enjoyment
by women and children of their human rights;
25. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any
kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or
religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan
Constitution and international law;
26. Commends the achievements and the commitment of the
Government of Afghanistan in this respect and expresses
its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and
terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, extremist
and other criminal groups on the enjoyment of human rights
and on the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to
ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
Afghans;
27. Recalls Security Council resolutions 1674 (2006) of
28 April 2006 and 1738 (2006) of 23 December 2006 on the
protection of civilians in armed conflict and expresses
its concern at the high number of civilian casualties as
stated in the recent report by the Secretary General on
the situation in Afghanistan, A/63/372 of 23 September
2008 including women and children, reiterates its call for
all feasible steps to be taken to ensure the protection of
civilians and calls for full compliance with international
humanitarian and human rights law;
28. Recognizes the importance of holding free, fair and
secure elections in 2009 and 2010 as a crucial step to
consolidate democracy for all Afghans as identified in the
Afghanistan Compact,2 stresses the responsibility of the
Afghan authorities in this regard and calls upon the
international community to continue to provide sustained
support, including financial assistance and support to the
Afghan government on ensuring the security of the
elections;
29. Welcomes the steps taken by the Government of
Afghanistan on justice sector reform, stresses the need
for further accelerated progress towards the establishment
of a fair and effective justice system as an important
step towards the goal of strengthening the Government,
providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout
the country, and urges the international community to
continue to support the efforts of the Government in these
areas in a coordinated manner;
30. Welcomes in this regard the adoption by the Afghan
authorities of the National Justice Programme, and
stresses the importance of its full and timely
implementation by all the relevant actors;
31. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and the
international community to devote adequate resources to
the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in
order to improve respect for the rule of law and human
rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health
risks to inmates;
32. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring access for
relevant organizations to all prisons in Afghanistan and
calls for full respect for relevant international law,
including humanitarian law, and human rights law, where
applicable, including with regard to minors, if detained;
33. Notes with concern reports of continued violations of
human rights and of international humanitarian law
including violent or discriminatory practices, violations
committed against persons belonging to ethnic and
religious minorities, as well as against women and girls,
stresses the need to promote tolerance and religious
freedom as guaranteed by the Afghan constitution,
emphasizes the necessity of investigating allegations of
current and past violations, stresses the importance of
facilitating the provision of efficient and effective
remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators
to justice in accordance with national and international
law;
34. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to
freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought,
conscience or belief, while noting with concern recent
attempts to limit freedom of expression and to intimidate
journalists and condemns cases of the abduction and even
killing of journalists by terrorist as well as extremist
and criminal groups;
35. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan
Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all
parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan
Constitution, encourages the Government of Afghanistan to
take increasing responsibility for the core funding of the
Commission and calls on the international community for
continued support in this regard;
36. Calls for the full implementation by the Government of
Afghanistan of the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and
Reconciliation, in the framework of the Afghan
constitution without prejudice to the implementation of
measures introduced by the Security Council in its
resolution 1267 (1999) and recalls other relevant
resolutions in this regard, including Security Council
resolution 1806 (2008);
37. Recalls Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31
October 2000 and 1820 (2008) of 19 June 2008 on women and
peace and security, commends the efforts of the Government
of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect
and promote the equal rights of women and men as
guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its ratification of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women, Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.
and by the Afghan Constitution, and reiterates the
continued importance of the full and equal participation
of women in all spheres of Afghan life, of equality before
the law and equal access to legal counsel without
discrimination of any kind;
38. Welcomes the creation of a special fund for the
protection of women at risk set up by UNIFEM with the
support of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees;
39. Welcomes the implementation of the National Action
Plan for Women in Afghanistan and the significant efforts
by the Government of Afghanistan to counter
discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve
all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in
the development and implementation of relief,
rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programs, and
encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a
sex-disaggregated basis to provide information on
gender-based violence and accurately track the progress of
the full integration of women into the political, economic
and social life of Afghanistan;
40. Applauds the progress achieved on gender equality and
in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic
milestones in the political process which will help to
consolidate durable peace and national stability in
Afghanistan, while noting the need to promote the
empowerment of women also at the provincial level;
41. Strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and
violence against women and girls, in particular if
directed against women activists and women prominent in
public life, wherever they occur in Afghanistan, including
killings, maimings, and "honor killings" in certain parts
of the country;
42. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the human
rights and fundamental freedoms of children in
Afghanistan, recalls the need to fully implement the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two Optional
Protocols thereto by all States parties, as well as
Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on
children and armed conflict;
43. Expresses in this regard its concern about the ongoing
recruitment and use of children by illegal armed and
terrorist groups in Afghanistan as expressed in the report
of the Secretary General on children and armed conflict of
21 December 2007, A/62/609 - S/2007/757. and stresses the
importance of ending the use of children contrary to
international law, welcomes the progress achieved by and
firm commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this
regard including the strong condemnation of any
exploitation of children SG Report on the situation in
Afghanistan and its implication for the security situation
of 24 September 2008;
44. Welcomes the adoption by the Government of Afghanistan
of the National Plan of Action on Combating Child
Trafficking, also welcomes initiatives to pass legislation
on human trafficking, guided by the Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially
Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations
Convention against Transitional Organized Crime,
Resolution 55/25, annex II. and stresses the importance of
considering becoming a party to the Protocol;
45. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to
effectively reform the public administration sector in
order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good
governance and accountability at both national and local
levels, and stresses the importance of meeting the
respective benchmarks of the Afghanistan Compact, with the
support of the international community;
46. Welcomes the appointment of officials, as required by
the Afghanistan Compact, to the Senior Appointments Panel
and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to make
active use of this panel, thus enhancing efficiency and
transparency in the appointment of senior officials;
47. Encourages the international community, including all
donor nations, to assist the Government of Afghanistan in
making capacity-building and human resources development a
cross-cutting priority;
48. Welcomes Afghanistan's ratification of the United
Nations Convention against corruption, encourages the
Government of Afghanistan to vigorously pursue its efforts
to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent
administration at national, provincial and local levels of
Government leading the fight against corruption in
accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, and notes with
concern the effects of corruption with regard to security,
good governance, combating the narcotics industry and
economic development;
49. Applauds the establishment of the Independent
Directorate of Local Governance by the Government of
Afghanistan, calls on Afghan authorities and the
international community to actively support the work of
the IDLG to establish and strengthen governance
institutions at sub-national levels, and ensure that these
institutions play a strong role in facilitating the
delivery of national activities and programs to improve
the well-being of the Afghan people, and welcomes in this
regard international support provided including the
agreements the IDLG signed with India and the Islamic
Republic of Iran to expand public service training;
50. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to address, with
the assistance of the international community, the
question of claims for land property through a
comprehensive land titling program, including formal
registration of all property and improved security of
property rights, and welcomes the steps already taken by
the Government in this regard;
51. Welcomes the launch of the Afghanistan National
Development Strategy, as well as further efforts of the
Government of Afghanistan to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals;
52. Welcomes the continuing and growing ownership of the
rehabilitation, reconstruction and development efforts by
the Government of Afghanistan, and emphasizes the crucial
need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and
to improve institutional capabilities, including at the
provincial level, in order to use aid more effectively;
53. Stresses the need for a continued strong international
commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programs,
under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of
recovery, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development,
and expressing, at the same time, its appreciation to the
United Nations system and to all States and international
and non-governmental organizations whose international and
local staff continue to respond positively to the
humanitarian, transition and development needs of
Afghanistan despite increasing security concerns and
difficulties of access in certain areas;
54. Expresses its appreciation for the humanitarian and
development assistance work of the international community
in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan,
recognizing the necessity for further improvement in the
living conditions of the Afghan people and emphasizing the
need to strengthen and support the capacity of the
Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic social
services, in particular education and public health
services, and to promote development;
55. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the
provincial reconstruction teams;
56. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations
system and international and non-governmental
organizations to continue to provide, in close
coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in
accordance with its national development strategy, all
possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery,
reconstruction, development, financial, technical and
material assistance for Afghanistan, and recalls in this
regard the leading role of UNAMA in coordinating
international efforts;
57. Urges the international community, in accordance with
the Afghanistan Compact, to increase the proportion of
donor assistance channeled directly to the core budget, as
agreed bilaterally between the Government of Afghanistan
and each donor, as well as through other more predictable
core budget funding modalities in which the Government
participates, such as the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust
Fund, the Law and Order Trust Fund and the
Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund;
58. Invites all States, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations providing assistance to
Afghanistan to focus on institution-building in a
coordinated manner and to ensure that such work
complements and contributes to the development of an
economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the
development of a financial sector that provides services,
inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized
enterprises and households, transparent business
regulations and accountability;
59. Encourages the international community to support the
local economy as a measure for long-term stability and
countering narcotics and, in this respect, to explore
possibilities for enhancing local procurement;
60. Welcomes all efforts to increase regional economic
integration.
RICE

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