Afghanistan a Top Priority at Bucharest Summit

By Zafar Salmanov


On 1 April 2008 in Bucharest, Romania, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined world leaders and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in a three-day summit, in which Afghanistan was a priority. In his speech on 3 April, 2008, Mr. Ban reassured the meeting that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) would not leave the country as long as it is needed by the Afghan people and would continue to guarantee national peace, security and development.

Young Girls Prepare for Exams in Afghanistan

Three young girls in the Bam Sarai village in Bamyan province prepare for exams as part of an effort in which UNICEF and the Government of Afghanistan aim to increase girls' primary school attendance by 20 percent by the end of 2008. (UN Photo/Shehzad Noorani)

Recent achievements, such as the establishment of a legal base of the Afghan State through a coordinated constitutional process, were highlighted during the meeting. The Secretary-General emphasized the progress in economic growth, lower infant and maternal mortality rates, the construction of infrastructure and an increase in school enrolment. However, he added that indicators of progress must not obscure the obstacles that the country still faced. Continuing violence and militancy in various parts of the country were impeding the achievement of stability, kept Afghanistan destabilized and caused greater and long-lasting damage, Mr. Ban added. According to the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Annual Report, in 2006 maternal mortality was 820 per 100, 000 live births and child mortality was 220 per 1000 live births – one of the highest in the world. Adult literacy rate for the same year was 43.2 per cent and 14.1 per cent for male and female correspondingly.

The Secretary-General also underscored that the drug economy was a big impediment. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Afghanistan accounted for 92 per cent of global illicit opium production in 2006 (49 percent increase compared to the previous year) and approximately 10 per cent of taxes on opium cultivation were used by anti-government forces to destabilize the country. To combat the illegal narcotics trade, it was suggested that traffickers and sellers who benefited most from the illegal narcotics trade should be targeted rather than the poorest farmers who are often left with no other choice.

In his speech Mr. Ban also addressed the problem of corruption which, according to him, was the primary responsibility of the Afghan Government, since it indicated a lack of confidence among government officials in the country’s future. He identified the limited administrative capacity, poor state infrastructure and the shortage of educated cadres as the main hindering factors to combat corruption.

The Secretary-General assured that the resolution on extending the UNAMA mandate in Afghanistan signified a stronger UN presence, which would play a key role in coordination both in the civilian and civil-military fields. It would strengthen the Afghan leadership through political outreach and support for national and subnational governance.

Afghanistan Observes 2007 International Peace Day

Peace doves fly in the grounds of the historic Hazrat-i-Ali mosque, in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, as part of the activities in observance of the International Day of Peace. The Peace doves are part of the campaign launched by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) entitled, "What will you do for Peace". (UN Photo/Helena Mulkerns)

The mandate of UNAMA was extended and its priorities were sharpened during the meeting of the Security Council on 20 March, 2008. In unanimously adopted resolution 1806 (2008), the Council identified the priority tasks of UNAMA: promoting coherent international support to the Afghan Government; strengthening cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF); providing political outreach through an expanded countrywide presence; and combating corruption by improving governance and the rule of law. UNAMA would also play a key role in facilitating delivery of humanitarian assistance, promoting human rights and assisting in the electoral process. UNAMA was established on March 28, 2002 through United Nations Security Council resolution 1401. The mandate which has been renewed annually was initially aimed at supporting the process of rebuilding and national reconciliation.

The Secretary-General said that the appointment of Ambassador Kai Eide as Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the Mission was guided by the changes needed to be made in Afghanistan and reflected the UN commitment to ensure peace, security and development in the strife-torn nation.

At a press conference with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Mr. Ban stressed the need for international aid in Afghanistan until the Government could stand on its own. “The cost of disengagement” he stated, “can be greater than the cost of engagement.”

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