Security Council meeting 5760

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Afghanistan, Canada, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan and Portugal, in which they request to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the consideration of the item without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

It is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

Members of the Council have before them document S/2007/555, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security.

At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

As Council members are aware, this will be Mr. Koenig's last briefing to the Security Council as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan. On behalf of the members of the Council, I would like to warmly thank Mr. Koenigs for the work he has done in Afghanistan under very challenging circumstances, for the useful briefings he has given this Council over the past two years and for his dedicated efforts in implementing the Council's resolutions on Afghanistan. In bidding him farewell, I wish him success and fulfilment in his future endeavours.

I now give the floor to Mr. Koenigs.

Mr. Koenigs (Special Representative of the Secretary-General)

First of all, Sir, I wish to thank you for your kind words.

I am pleased to note that as we come together today to consider the way forward in Afghanistan, many of us here do so for the second or even a third time in a month. There could be no clearer indication of the priority that the international community rightly assigns to success in Afghanistan and the enduring commitment to a better future for all Afghans.

The most recent of these three meetings -- the sixth Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board meeting on 3 October in Kabul -- focused on regional economic cooperation. After frank discussions, it took decisions on trade and transit, finalization of commercially viable power purchase agreements and facilitation of transborder labour movements and of voluntary repatriation and reintegration of Afghan refugees, with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The huge importance of active regional cooperation for stability and economic development was stressed by all speakers.

However, despite the positive steps taken during the meeting, discussion of key topics highlighted a capacity deficit in regional cooperation, which must be addressed first and foremost within the Government of Afghanistan by the creation of supporting regional units in the lead ministries, led by the reinforced Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the region, a key target remains complementing the focus of Afghanistan's neighbours on their bilateral relationships by furthering, and expanding upon, multilateral approaches to enduring stability for Afghanistan.

The coordination of international and Afghan military actors has improved at both the national and regional levels, and there have been significant tactical military successes in the south and in the east since I briefed this Council in March. In the past two months, the level of violence has subsided. Nonetheless, on a month-by-month basis, compared with last year, the number of violent incidents is up by approximately 30 per cent. So far this year, the United Nations has recorded 606 detonated improvised explosive devices and 133 suicide attacks, as compared with 88 at this time last year. That is a significant increase, and a sad result is the increase in the number of casualties -- at least 1,200 civilians have been killed since January this year.

The Afghan National Army will be at around 47,000 soldiers strong by the end of this year. The Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan hopes to deliver a force of 70,000 by the end of 2008. At the same time, a programme of focused district development should begin to address the poor standards of the Afghan National Police. But numbers are not a measure of capability, and for the time being we must recognize that the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) represents the most capable defence of the Government against the insurgency.

NATO and ISAF must work with the Government of Afghanistan and with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to ensure that an integrated political and military strategy and a shared security plan for Afghanistan that take full account of military, counter-insurgency, governance, development, reconstruction and human dimensions are sources of strength for all in standing against violence and bringing peace to Afghanistan over the winter months and throughout 2008. Key to the success of such an integrated strategy is the greater inclusion of Afghanistan's civilian and military leaders in the planning of security operations in regional commands, International Security Assistance Force headquarters, and NATO military headquarters.

In the current climate of instability and conflict, the lack of oversight mechanisms for human rights, especially with regard to the opacity of the mandate of the National Directorate for Security, the intelligence service, and lack of access to its facilities are of particular concern. It should also be added that the lack of coordination of the National Directorate for Security with both the justice system and, in some areas, even with other security organizations is a hindrance to security within the country. I urge the Government to investigate allegations of arbitrary detention and torture of detainees, granting UNAMA and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission unrestricted access to monitor the National Directorate for Security detention centres and activities throughout the country. One recommendation in that sense is to be found in paragraph 84 of the Secretary-General's report.

I was deeply troubled by the recent decision of the Afghan Government to execute 15 prisoners on 8 October. As members are all aware, the United Nations does not support the imposition of the death penalty and, specifically with regard to Afghanistan, in 2005 the Commission on Human Rights called on Afghan authorities to declare a moratorium on the death penalty in light of procedural and substantive flaws in the judicial system. I must take this opportunity to urge the Government to reinstate the moratorium and to respect the international laws governing the illegality of the death penalty when a fair trial cannot be guaranteed.

Although, amid the violence in Afghanistan, suicide attacks receive the most publicity, perhaps the biggest threat to the civilian population and overall stability is the ongoing campaign of intimidation, abduction and execution being carried out by anti-Government elements against all those seen to have a connection with the Afghan Government or the international community. It is imperative that the protection of civilians remain at the forefront of everyone's efforts in Afghanistan, for a 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.

I am pleased to be able to note concrete steps taken by ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom on the issue of civilian casualties. Those include the issuance of orders to all regional commands to adjust tactics, where possible, to increase protection of civilians and the improvement of systems for compensation and information-sharing. The Security Council has reinforced such efforts to protect civilians in the new language of the International Security Assistance Force's recent mandate extension of 19 September in resolution 1776 (2007).

I wish to stress that there can be no further delays in addressing the twin challenges of governance and outreach, on which progress in Afghanistan depends. In order to thrive, Afghan communities require security and opportunity. While internationally supported military operations or, indeed, the ever-more capable Afghan National Army can potentially provide temporary security, opportunity requires a just institutional framework in which commitment to the Constitution's precepts -- that is, good citizenship -- is rewarded. Along with that, transgression must be punished. 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.

The focus on shoring up the central Government has come at the cost of provincial administrations, which, as a result of being long neglected by both the Government and its international partners, are weak and undersupported. The creation last month of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) is belated, especially given that its task is undoubtedly one of the most important and difficult ones facing the administration today. The strategic framework recently presented by IDLG, which identifies the need to achieve transparent, accountable, participatory and inclusive governance, must be refined into concrete and manageable tasks, assigned across ministries, and pursued with determination.

I hope that donors wholeheartedly support IDLG's work, which should form the backbone of comprehensive political engagement and dramatically increase the public's trust in Government. Such a programme could build on the successful completion of this summer's sub-national consultations, which involved 11,000 people participating in the development of 35 provincial development plans. That will complement the ongoing work with the sector strategies and help ensure that the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, to be finalized by March next year, will be truly representative. I urge the international community to work closely with the Strategy and to support the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board secretariat to ensure that the Strategy becomes an enduring vehicle for the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan.

For the dangers of weak governance, one need look no further than the 34 per cent increase in opium production in 2007. A disjointed international community approach, combined with a lack of Afghan leadership at the national and sub-national levels, has allowed drug traffickers to prosper. Where there has been success -- for example in Balkh province, which was declared poppy free this year -- it has been the direct result of unequivocal Afghan leadership. That should serve as a model for efforts throughout the country.

The dangers posed by the record poppy harvest have gone beyond the societal and health issues, as it has encouraged an alliance of convenience between the insurgents and drug lords. Both parties have an interest in a weak State and are further exploiting that synergy and fostering corruption among local administrators and key security officials, most often the police. If unchecked, those whose financial interests are served by the drug trade will use their profits to buy political power ahead of elections, which will in turn sow the seeds for a self-perpetuating narco-State.

For that reason, I would like to commend the Government and its international partners for its recent commitment, through the Policy Action Group on 10 October, to a 12-point action plan on which to base implementation of the national drug control strategy. While the actions are quite comprehensive, to be successful they will require determined leadership and great political will on the part of the Government, supported by all the international partners.

Capacity-building remains a key weapon with which to combat the corrosive power of corruption. In instances where Government and international efforts have been aligned and focused on institutional capacity development -- such as in the Afghan National Army and the ministries of finance, education, health and rural development -- there has been consolidated progress. Where that has not happened -- such as in the Civil Service Commission, counter-narcotics, sub-national governance and the Ministry of Interior -- progress has been limited.

The efforts of all those -- in particular the Afghan Government, the United States and the European Union -- whose great commitment to reforming the Afghan National Police has resulted in higher quality police chiefs, new standards of vetting and professionalism, merit-based selection of police officials, improved vehicles and equipment and growing effectiveness on the part of the uniformed, border, traffic and civil order police in most parts of the country are highly appreciated.

Nevertheless, parts of the Ministry of Interior have proved resistant to principles of accountability and transparency, thereby hampering the development of the Afghan National Police. At the same time, the absence of a unified vision of the police that addresses the requirements of law enforcement and counter-insurgency has perpetuated an environment dominated by a culture of patronage and corruption. In addition, we cannot ignore the fact that, to date this year, the violent insurgency has cost more than 1,000 policemen their lives. The Government of Afghanistan and the international community must urgently come together to develop a definitive structure for the National Police that embraces both gendarmerie and civilian police functions.

The Government of Afghanistan and its partners have only belatedly understood the specific role the police must play, and the additional support they require, in any successful counter-insurgency strategy. To that end, the recently formed International Police Coordination Board, whose mandate is to bring coherence to police development efforts, should be structured to function on the basis of Afghan leadership as the central policy body for police reform.

In the past two months, the President and the parliament have increasingly expressed the desire to conduct outreach to insurgents willing to reconcile with the Government. However, to be effective, national reconciliation will require a comprehensive strategy defined by the parameters of the Afghan constitution. I was told that several Taliban commanders have expressed the wish to live in peace under the current constitution -- out of fear for their survival and uncertainty about the sustainability of their sanctuaries and in response to signals pointing towards the need for dialogue at many levels, above all in the wake of the Afghanistan-Pakistan peace jirga held in early August. The Taliban as an organization remains, at least in part, determined to continue its military campaign. There are currently no prospects for negotiations with the top leadership of the Taliban.

In the past few weeks, the parliament passed legislation governing political parties, the structure of the Government and property. Many of those subjects have provoked discussion and even controversy, none more so than the Media Law. In the version ultimately approved by both houses of parliament -- which post-dates the one referred to in paragraph 16 of the report (S/2007/555) of the Secretary-General -- the independence of Afghan media has been largely protected. Extensive lobbying by Afghan journalists and civil society and by the international community, including UNAMA, appears to have been successful in many respects.

The President and his supporters responded to the formation, in May, of the National United Front -- a political opposition party with which several members of the Cabinet are associated -- with the recent registration of a Republican Party, to which other Cabinet members belong. That growing political diversity is the healthiest indicator yet that Afghans are taking charge of their own destiny and that the perspectives of key political players in Afghanistan both within and outside the Government have shifted from post-electoral to pre-electoral concerns.

As noted in the report of the Secretary-General, at their meeting in May, the members of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board of the Afghanistan Compact recommended that the Government and the National Assembly should ensure the Assembly's timely adoption of an electoral law that would allow for cost-effective and secure elections, as called for by the Afghanistan Compact. At the President's request, the parliament is currently considering the merits of harmonizing the presidential and parliamentary election cycles, which expire in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

I urge the international community to ensure that it supports election preparations in a coherent manner, with the goal of achieving well-prepared, free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections at the central and district levels. To that end, I encourage donors to meet the shortfall from the previous elections and to provide the necessary resources for a voter registry and for building the capacity of the Independent Electoral Commission.

UNAMA will continue to play its central coordinating role and take new initiatives in the areas where we can make a meaningful contribution. With its 17 offices in the field, and in the numerous working groups of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, UNAMA will make its best efforts to deliver effective coordination throughout the country at the national and sub-national levels. With a view to reinforcing regional and provincial offices, in its 2008 budget submission, UNAMA will request a moderate increase in international posts, including for the police and military advisory units. It should be stressed that UNAMA's activities, in particular in the field, must be carried out with all precautionary measures to protect our staff. That requires sufficient resources. On all those issues, the support of Council members is highly appreciated.

Notwithstanding the serious challenges facing Afghanistan, it is heartening to be able to report the involvement of several thousand people in marches and other activities throughout Afghanistan on the International Day of Peace, which was observed on 21 September. The UNAMA-led communications campaign begun in July to mobilize grass-roots voices for peace culminated in peace debates, spontaneous gatherings and, perhaps most important, a successful Government of Afghanistan/UNICEF/World Health Organization Peace Day polio vaccination campaign in previously inaccessible areas of the south and east.

We commend the clear resolve of the Afghan people, who have now been battered by nearly 30 years of war and conflict, to build on their achievements of the past six years by contributing to a genuine peace process that embraces civil society, tribal groups, elected representatives, the legitimate Government and opposition groups and that engages all in a common effort to make national reconciliation a real prospect.

Finally, I would like to thank the Council for its continuing commitment to the peace process in Afghanistan and to UNAMA's mission. On a more personal note, I would like to thank the Council for the support it has given me -- which in many cases went beyond diplomatic routine -- as the leader of UNAMA, which is one of the most challenging and fascinating of United Nations missions.

The President

I thank Mr. Koenigs for his briefing.

Before opening the floor, I wish to request all participants to limit their statements to no more than five minutes, in order to enable the Council to work efficiently within its timetable. I thank speakers for their understanding and cooperation.

Mr. Wolff (United States)

I would like to thank Mr. Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, for his comprehensive report and for his continued dedication to the Mission. I would also like to extend the thanks of the United States to all the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), who have worked so hard over the course of the United Nations mandate to help the Afghan people build a democratic State that protects fundamental human rights, provides security and other services and offers economic opportunity.

As in the case of past reports, the Special Representative has brought us up to date on the progress that Afghanistan has made with the support of the international community. He has also kept us up to date on the significant challenges and threats that Afghanistan still faces.

This report highlights that the international community must continue to stand united in support of the Afghan Government and of the Afghan people for success in Afghanistan. We must continue our productive efforts to reaccelerate State-building and capacity-building, help create a robust agriculture sector that will reduce the incentives to grow opium and will strengthen the rule of law, security, and human rights.

We must also support the Afghan Government in exerting its authority throughout the country. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan plays a critical role in that area, whether it is helping the Afghan Government to fight the threats of corruption and narcotics, coordinating humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, or helping to build capacity and integrity at the local level, where the Afghan people most often interact with the State.

Afghanistan has made significant progress, but it is going through a critically important and difficult transition. We applaud the strong leadership and dedication of the Secretary-General and Mr. Koenigs in their support of Afghanistan's emergence as a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic member of the family of nations.

We also take great satisfaction that the Special Representative reports that 6 million Afghan children are now in school -- the highest number in the country's history -- and over two million of them are girls; that there has been steady improvement in economic conditions with preliminary estimates showing economic growth at eight per cent and a bumper wheat harvest of 4.5 million tons; and that there has been additional progress in the areas of health, road building, and rural development.

Nevertheless, security is still an enormous concern and the Taliban has recently resorted to vicious measures, increasingly relying on suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices, in an effort to terrorize the population and undermine the Afghan Government. As Secretary Rice explained in Brussels earlier this year,

"The violence we are seeing is not evidence that our strategy has failed, nor that the situation will improve in our absence; rather, it is evidence of how much we are needed. It is evidence that we must do more -- and do it better, faster".

It is vitally important that Afghanistan succeed. Afghanistan was the safe haven of today's global terrorist threat, and enabling Afghans to eliminate that threat within their borders will be a strategic victory for Afghans, for the friends of Afghanistan in the international community, and for the United Nations.

Afghans are eager to take on a greater role in their own security. As we speak, the Afghan National Army and its civilian command structure are taking on increasing responsibility in securing their borders and their people. The Afghan National Army is a respected institution in Afghanistan and it is now more than 35,000 strong, with a target size of 70,000. The Special Representative's report points out that, "increased training and mentoring has improved the army's capacity to plan and conduct joint operations with coalition forces and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/ISAF," (S/2007/555, para. 30) and that is good news. But we must increase these joint efforts to train, mentor and equip the Afghan National Army and Police and we must provide every measure of support to the United Nations-mandated, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In particular, we owe it to the people of Afghanistan to give commanders the forces and flexibility they need to bring stability, reconstruction and good governance to all of Afghanistan. Stability in Afghanistan is vital not only to Afghans, but to the security and well-being of all free peoples who stand opposed to terror and injustice.

The Afghan people have come a long way in recovering from the tyranny of the Taliban. It is essential that we maintain the unity and commitment of the international community to help the Afghan people complete the transition from tyranny to liberty, and I am gratified that the Special Representative's report indicates that international support to Afghanistan has intensified.

While the international community's assistance to Afghanistan has been great, the needs are greater still. We must not slacken in our resolve to provide the Afghan people with the tools to rebuild. The Afghanistan Compact showed us the way, but progress is only possible if the entire international community digs deep to provide funds for reconstruction and experts to mentor on governance, justice, agriculture, and commerce.

And with the need for more assistance, comes the need for better coordination. In this regard, it is important that we find a strong United Nations envoy who, in support of the Government of Afghanistan, will coordinate international civilian efforts in Afghanistan and donor capitals.

With great challenges still ahead of us, we must maintain our resolve. The United States sees long-term assistance to Afghanistan as a strategic imperative, and we look forward to continuing to work together with other members of the Council as we engage in assisting the government and the people of Afghanistan.

Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar)

Allow me to begin by welcoming Mr. Tom Koenigs, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, and thanking him for his briefing to the Council. In this regard, my delegation would like to pay tribute to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and to its commitment to extend its role by opening offices in Day Kundi and Ghor Provinces. We would also like to pay tribute to the staff of the mission, who are working in difficult circumstances.

The future of Afghanistan depends on achieving the goals and objectives of the Bonn Agreement concluded almost six years ago. The ensuing political transition process has begun to unravel and has deviated from its original specific course. The political landscape in Afghanistan is made up of an interdependent network that brings together all the country's political groups. Therefore, there must be a focus on active participation by all parties, in order to establish a political process with democracy at its core. The country needs genuine internal unity. There is also a need for political awareness among political actors of all stripes. Such a cohesive approach would enable Afghanistan to realize the dream of political security and stability.

Taliban attacks have increased considerably. The movement is currently leading an intense insurgency and relies increasingly on suicide attacks and other tactics. This situation undermines confidence in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The worsening of the security situation in the country must be addressed as soon as possible.

Only a few provinces in Afghanistan enjoy security and stability. We appreciate the role played by the Afghan Government and NATO in maintaining security and stability, and we stress the need to exert more efforts within the framework of constructive cooperation between the Afghan Government, its neighbours and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), with the assistance of the international community, in order to establish security without compromising human rights in the country. That is a vital role that must be played by the international community.

We express our concern about the number of innocent civilians killed by accident while terrorism was being fought in Afghanistan.

The question of security is linked to reconstruction, development and combating narcotics. Therefore, military strategies must go hand in hand with plans for development and national reconciliation.

While we welcome the role being played by the Government in Afghanistan, we are aware of the scope of the difficulties facing it. Thus, we hope that the central Government can develop a new mechanism that will enable it to deal with all its opponents. Let us not forget that the Afghan people need cohesiveness, because they have endured hardship and uncertainty and have made great sacrifices in their long quest for peace, freedom, well-being and independence.

International support for Afghanistan has recently increased. That positive development should result in the formulation of new initiatives to address challenges in the areas of security, poverty, rehabilitating the infrastructure, ensuring respect for human rights and improving Afghanistan's political environment. My delegation welcomes the recent meetings held in support of Afghanistan, including the Tokyo and Rome conferences on the rule of law in the country. Those conferences resulted in a consensus on the need for a national justice programme and a sectoral strategy based on an Afghan monitoring and assessment system supervised by the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board. We also welcome the recent high-level meeting of Board members, held in new York on 23 September.

The problem of illicit drugs remains among the difficult obstacles to the achievement of stability and security for the people of Afghanistan. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has reported a 17 per cent increase in opium poppy cultivation and a potential 34 per cent increase in opium production. Thus, it is obvious that the implementation of the national anti-drug strategy has not achieved satisfactory results. Areas such as Hilmand and the eastern province of Nangarhar are major sources of opium. Greater efforts and planning must focus on providing alternative sources of income for farmers.

The spirit of solidarity that unites our nations and our peoples with the brotherly people of Afghanistan obliges us to shoulder our historic responsibility. The State of Qatar reaffirms its principled commitment to working to achieve stability in Afghanistan and continuing to provide support to the Afghan people. It joins with the international community in its efforts to achieve those goals in order to promote reconstruction in that brotherly country.

Mr. Liu Zhenmin (China)

The Chinese delegation would like to thank Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, for his briefing. China appreciates the vigorous efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to promote reconstruction in Afghanistan. We are prepared to continue to support the Special Representative and UNAMA in their work.

China is pleased to note that, with the help of the international community, including the United Nations, Afghanistan has made progress in its recovery and development. In political terms, the Afghan Government, led by President Karzai, has undertaken measures to combat corruption and to actively seek political reconciliation. In economic terms, this year Afghanistan has achieved basic self-sufficiency in its food supply and has maintained steady economic growth. In the areas of education and health care, the enrolment of primary-school students has reached a historic high and infant and maternal mortality rates have continued to decline. The Government has reached out to neighbours and other countries to engage in friendly cooperation.

At the same time, however, there remain many grave challenges to peaceful reconstruction in Afghanistan. Extremists and terrorists continue to pose a serious threat to peace and prosperity. The country's institutional capacity still needs to be strengthened at various levels. Economic and social development still cannot satisfy the people's basic needs. The cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs are on the rise.

China believes that, in addressing those challenges, priority must be accorded to the following aspects. First, security is the primary issue facing Afghanistan. The international community must provide additional resources to expedite the building of the military and police forces so that they can, at an early date, independently shoulder their responsibility for the maintenance of national security and social stability.

Secondly, the functions of Government need to be strengthened. Accelerated economic development is the key to achieving long-term stability in the country. The Government must work hard to produce strong teams of qualified civil servants and must continue to seek stability and promote development if it is to achieve concrete results in the areas of economic reconstruction, education, health care, human rights and the rule of law. In that way, the people's confidence in the future of the country can be restored.

Thirdly, the United Nations should continue to play a central and coordinating role in the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and in international assistance to that end. China supports UNAMA's consistently neutral position in its role of promoting political reconciliation in the country. We also hope that the international community will provide more material and human resources to UNAMA.

Fourthly, regional cooperation is an effective means through which the international community can help Afghanistan to achieve stability and good governance. We hope that Afghanistan and its neighbours will fully utilize existing mechanisms to enhance mutual political trust, to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorist activities and drug trafficking and to seek mutual development.

As a friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, China feels great empathy with Afghanistan with regard to the hardship that it has endured. We sincerely hope that Afghanistan can soon build a strong and prosperous State and achieve social harmony and well-being. To that end, China has participated actively in efforts aimed at post-war reconstruction in Afghanistan. Over the past five years, we have provided Afghanistan with assistance in the form of engineering projects, material assistance and the training of personnel. We are currently focusing on building the Republic Hospital in Kabul, the Parwan irrigation project and the presidential compound conference centre. The President of China, Mr. Hu Jintao, announced a few days ago that this year, the Chinese Government will once again provide Afghanistan with a grant, in the amount of 18 million yuan.

Although the road ahead remains rocky, the Afghan people have high expectations and enduring faith that they will achieve peace, stability, security and development. That gives us every reason to be confident that, through the efforts of the Government and the people of Afghanistan and the assistance of the international community, that ancient and beautiful land, which has known despair, will once again see the blossoming of hope, as well as new and notable achievements in the process of its peaceful reconstruction.

Mr. Ripert (France)

I should like at the outset to thank Mr. Koenigs for his briefing and to commend him for the remarkable work that he has accomplished over the past two years in a difficult context.

France fully subscribes to the statement to be made shortly by the Permanent Representative of Portugal on behalf of the European Union.

The situation described by Mr. Koenigs gives us reasons both for hope and for concern. We have reasons for hope when we assess the progress made since beginning of the Bonn process: central Afghan institutions are functioning; administration is being strengthened in a number of provinces; the economy is growing; civil society is active; as has been stated, school is being attended by many boys and girls; the infant mortality rate is declining; there is broad participation by women in the formulation of the National Development Strategy; and the country is already preparing for the 2009 parliamentary and presidential elections.

But there is uncertainty with regard to the future of the process begun in Bonn in 2001, first because the success achieved by the Afghan National Army on the ground with the support of international forces has not yet translated into a marked weakening of the insurgent groups, which do not hesitate to resort to terrorist tactics. The Afghan Government is also having difficulty establishing the rule of law in many parts of the country. Too often, illegal armed groups, drug traffickers and local warlords take advantage of the weakness of State institutions and the corruption of some authorities to assert their own interests, to the detriment of the most basic rights of the population. That situation provides the Taliban and other extremist groups with a breeding ground.

The deterioration of the human rights situation, already mentioned here, is to be deplored. Beyond the disappearances and cases of torture mentioned by Mr. Koenigs, virulent attacks by some Afghan politicians, notably members of Parliament, against the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission is of great concern. We reaffirm our support for the work of the Commission and ask the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to be very vigilant.

France and the European Union were profoundly saddened to hear the announcement of the execution on 7 October of 15 persons who had been condemned to death. France reiterates the call of the European Union urging the Afghan authorities to reinstate as soon as possible the moratorium on executions. France also notes that the lack of due process in the trials of the persons concerned and the secrecy of the executions are not in compliance with international human rights standards.

In order to consolidate the advances of the last six years, the Afghan authorities and the international community must ensure reform of the security and justice sector. The Afghan Government needs to show the necessary political will through compliance with its commitments under the Afghanistan Compact of 2006.

We have confidence in President Karzai, but that political will cannot be translated into reality on the ground unless the international community and in particular neighbouring countries mobilize their full and unambiguous support. In that vein, France is pleased to see the developments in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan since the peace jirga held in August 2007. Afghanistan needs to play a greater role in regional affairs.

France will increase its effort both at the military level, stressing operational training of the Afghan army, and in civil reconstruction, so that the Afghan people can harvest the fruits of a return to peace and security.

Military success can achieve long-term effects only if it is part of a global political strategy. Clearly, UNAMA has a central role to play in the revitalization of the international presence in Afghanistan. Only the United Nations has the legitimacy -- because of its recognized impartiality -- and the necessary expertise to develop a global approach to consolidating the democratic transition process in support of the Afghan Government. There has been significant strengthening of the presence of UNAMA in Afghanistan over the past months and we welcome the extension of that presence while noting any security concerns. France also calls upon other actors in the area, in particular the International Security Assistance Force and the provincial reconstruction teams, to ensure that UNAMA is well integrated into their efforts.

Finally, we must give the United Nations the necessary support so that it may fully carry out its role in spurring political and strategic action in Afghanistan. In that spirit, France has announced its interest in the appointment of a leading political figure who would be able to ensure better coordination of international civilian and military activities. It seems to us that it is urgent that the United Nations become the voice of the international community with regard to the Afghan people.

Mr. Verbeke (Belgium)

Allow me first to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Tom Koenigs, for his statement, which clearly highlighted the progress made as well as the challenges that remain to be met.

In supplementing the statement that will be made soon by the Permanent Representative of Portugal on behalf of the European Union, I would like to offer the following comments.

Both the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/555) and the briefing of Mr. Koenigs heavily underscored the need for a comprehensive approach as well as the need for further coordination. Belgium fully shares that view and in particular emphasizes the importance of proper coordination between the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The considerable increase in opium production is very worrisome, in particular given the ties between drug traders and the rebels, as well as the negative effects of drug money on State institutions which are still fragile. The Afghan Government must shoulder its responsibilities and take the necessary measures. That is also necessary in the framework of the struggle against corruption and the advancement of good government.

Afghan capacity in the area of security and the rule of law must be strengthened to enable the authorities to take over. In that context, Belgium welcomes the launching of the European Union Police Mission. As proposed by the Secretary-General, my delegation encourages the Afghan authorities to consider the simultaneous organization of legislative and presidential elections in the near future.

In the human rights field, Belgium deeply regrets that 15 people condemned to death were executed last week and requests that the Afghan authorities reinstate as quickly as possible the moratorium on executions. Belgium also regrets that the National Acton Plan for the Women of Afghanistan has not yet been implemented.

My country condemns most strongly all attacks on civilians and the Afghan and international security forces. The recent suicide attacks in Kabul demonstrate once more the cost in human lives that the non-respect for the fundamental values of a society by those who oppose the process under way, can cause. That should convince the Afghan authorities and the international community to pursue the efforts begun with respect to the rule of law, as the sole guarantee to ensure that the Afghan population retains confidence in its institutions or, more simply, in its future.

At the regional level, neighbouring countries can make a significant contribution to peace and security in Afghanistan. In that context, my delegation is pleased to note the recent international initiatives designed to strengthen cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours. The joint declaration that concluded the Afghanistan-Pakistan peace jirga organized in Kabul in August 2007 is an important step towards strengthening relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

My delegation welcomes the adoption on 19 September of resolution 1776 (2007) extending by one year the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force. Since 2002, Belgium has been contributing to ISAF. Since October, the Belgium contingent has been reinforced and now numbers 367 men and women deployed in Kabul but who are also contributing to the provincial reconstruction team in Kunduz. In taking over command of the international airport in Kabul, Belgium will be devoting particular attention to the training of Afghan airport personnel so that they can eventually take over the management of the airport.

Finally, as Chairman of the 1267 Committee, Belgium continues to believe that the sanctions regime imposed on the Taliban, Al-Qaida and their associates is a powerful instrument in combating terrorism in a general manner and in working for the stabilization of Afghanistan, in particular.

Mr. Voto-Bernales (Peru)

First of all, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, Mr. Tom Koenigs, for his briefing and express our gratitude for his very important work.

Peru appreciates the will of the Government and people of Afghanistan, as well as that of the international community, in renewing their commitment to attend to the difficult challenges that Afghanistan faces in attaining peace and in reconstructing the country and its institutions. In spite of that will, we see that, with the exception of some significant achievements in the areas of education, public health and food security, the deterioration of the internal, political and military situations, as well as in the fight against drug trafficking, means that this Council is facing a situation of great concern.

Afghanistan has evolved in an unexpected direction over the last few months. This dangerous trend means that we need to reassess the strategies and tactics used and correct the activities of the Afghan Government and the international community. In this regard, we welcome the recent meetings of the member States of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board.

We recognize that the entire country is not equally affected by the same issues. In general, the security situation, especially in the Southwest and the East, is affected by a steady stream of terrorist attacks and the activities of illegal armed groups. The situation is increasingly complex because of the affliction of drug-trafficking. After six years, the increase in suicide attacks and terrorist attacks shows that Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups are resilient and are acting increasingly in concert with criminal sectors, in addition to adopting convergent strategies.

In this context, we believe that the Afghan State should adjust its security and reconciliation strategy to better respond to its adversary. Security in Afghanistan must be taken up as a priority by its own citizens. We need better coordination between the Afghan security forces and the international security presence, as suggested by the Secretary-General. Similarly, an in-depth overhaul is needed regarding the situation of the Afghan National Police.

On the other hand, we must avoid military operations that incur Afghan civilian victims and produce a negative impact on the legitimacy of the cooperation with the Afghan Government. The protection of civilians and their human rights, as well as the respect for humanitarian obligations and international law, must be at the very centre of all security operations.

It is clear that the strategy to fight drug-trafficking is not working in many parts of Afghanistan. The international efforts of the last six years have coincided with an exponential increase in poppy, opium and morphine production in Afghanistan. In 2007, Afghanistan produced a record amount of opium never before attained. This leads to a grave problem of credibility in the social, economic and political efforts aimed at reconstruction in Afghanistan, with repercussions related to security and democratic governance. Regional and international cooperation are more necessary than ever to counteract the increase of power of the drug trade, even with democratic structures and institutions.

Peru would stress the importance of supporting the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its fundamental assault on the serious problem of drugs, using a policy of shared responsibility under the leadership of the Government of Afghanistan and in cooperation with the international community. But it is necessary for there to be effective results with immediate economic benefits to the more than 3 million Afghans who live off of the drug trade. The political system must also be freed of the perverse affects of this plague.

The international community continues to endorse the construction of a democratic, peaceful and reconciled Afghanistan, free from terrorism and drug-trafficking, prepared to return to the path of development. There cannot be strong democracy without multi-lateral dialogue and unity of action. The Government needs to create synergies and provide political and administrative direction to the country, while fighting impunity and corruption.

It is necessary to recognize that Afghanistan needs sustained and constant attention, not only to strengthen security, but also to reconstruct a physical infrastructure to promote development, reduce poverty and create opportunities for well-being that will contribute to peace and stability.

In closing, we feel that the financial support of the international community, as well as donors, is crucial to the international development strategy that will be launched in March of 2008.

Mr. Okio (Congo)

My delegation would like to thank the President for having organized this important meeting on the most recent events on the situation in Afghanistan.

We also wish to thank Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), for the complete and detailed presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/555), which describes a complex and unstable situation which can only be a source of justified concern, even if there are reasons for hope.

Congo would like to express its sincere gratitude to the personnel of UNAMA and of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for the efforts they are making in the field to complete their highly dangerous tasks.

As was noted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in his statement, significant progress has been made in certain areas, which he cited, but the security issue is an ever growing problem with the rebellions of the Taliban and other extremist groups. According to the report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/555), their attacks have increased by 20 per cent as compared to the year 2006. My delegation therefore has questions regarding the mobilization capacity of the Taliban, given the heavy losses that they have incurred. Most of the victims of this terror are, above all, the rebels themselves; but there are also, and we deeply regret this, numerous casualties in the ranks of the Afghan security forces and innocent civilians, as well as ISAF soldiers, as was shown by the recent attack in Kabul.

As Mr. Koenigs pointed out during his statement, more than 1200 civilians have died as a result of these attacks since January 2007. The revival of the Taliban rebellion and that of other extremist groups, the barbaric methods including suicide attacks against civilians and international and Afghan forces, the abductions of civilians and campaigns of intimidation have destabilizing affects on the general situation in Afghanistan.

The capacity for inflicting harm by the Taliban and other extremist groups is therefore a genuine subject of concern, because it not only exacerbates the deteriorating security situation, but also increasingly affects the living conditions of the Afghan population. It is therefore necessary and urgent to strengthen the capacity of the Afghan armed forces and the police, within the framework of an anti-insurrection strategy, as underscored by the Secretary-General in paragraph 9 of his report (S/2007/555).

My delegation notes with concern the continuation of poppy growing, as well as the production and trafficking in opium, both important sources of financing for the Taliban. Trafficking poses a significant danger, not only for the Afghan nation itself, but also for the entire international community, as indicated by the study of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In that connection, my delegation supports the recommendation of the Secretary-General on the creation by Afghanistan of a pilot plan to combat drugs, with the support of the international community and in particular of UNODC. However, if it is to be effective, the campaign must fully address the imperative need for a substitution economy to allow those who depend on growing poppies and dealing in opium to find other sources of income and well-being.

It is equally necessary to strengthen the institutions participating in the advancement of the rule of law. Although progress has been made in the quest for a comprehensive approach to security, governance and development in Afghanistan on the basis of the Afghanistan Compact, the Afghan Government continues to suffer from certain weaknesses, in particular in fighting corruption, which could be readily exploited by the Taliban and other extremist groups. The difficulties encountered by the Anti-Corruption Commission established by President Karzai reveal that this scourge has infected several levels of Afghan society. As the Secretary-General notes in his report, the impact of Government action in this field remains unclear. The patronage system undermines such efforts all too often.

My delegation therefore endorses the Secretary-General's recommendations on reforming the police, the National Army and the judicial sector, with the support of international donors, in order to establish the rule of law in Afghanistan. We note with satisfaction the creation of the International Police Coordination Board, under Afghan authority, and the deployment of the European Police Mission.

The creation of the Good Performers Initiative to promote the development of the provinces, and in particular the eradication of all activities linked to drug trafficking, is a very positive move that deserves support. However, it is important for the Afghan authorities to consider easing administrative and financial procedures in order to assist access to the fund by several categories of recipients.

My delegation also notes with interest that Afghanistan is acting to promote peaceful relations with its neighbours in a turbulent region where myriad situations are often inextricably intertwined. The commitment of the Afghan and Pakistani Governments to addressing such joint problems as opium production and trafficking and terrorism and to coordinating their efforts to limit opposition raids in Afghanistan is also a positive factor to be encouraged. The Congo therefore urges the two countries to ensure the implementation of the joint declaration on promoting cooperation and assistance through collaboration and understanding, including projects pursued in such fields as the repatriation of refugees and economic development on both sides of the border.

Moreover, the general agreement on bilateral cooperation signed with the Islamic Republic of Iran indicates a favourable attitude to good-neighbourly relations, which Afghanistan so badly needs to ensure its own stability. The Congo therefore supports all such initiatives, which are helping to stabilize the internal situation in Afghanistan and the region.

The Congo also welcomes the initiatives of the international community that are helping to improve security, stability and reconstruction in the country. The Conference held in Rome on 2 and 3 July, the high-level meeting held in New York on 23 September and previous meetings also emphasized the common resolve to seek a lasting solution to the Afghan crisis.

It should be noted that millions of Afghans remain in exile in Iran and Pakistan. The situation requires intensive consideration and consistent commitment on the part of the international community in regard both to voluntary returns and to finding alternative solutions for some groups of Afghans who cannot return to their country.

The Congo supports the effective commitment of the United Nations in the role of central and impartial coordinator that it has played to date.

In conclusion, I recall that, in seeking successfully to accomplish its task of reconciliation and expand its territorial reach, the Afghan Government expects a great deal from the varied contributions of the Security Council. The Council should make A substantive effort in that respect when it considers requests made by the Afghan Government, in particular concerning former Taliban, because the strengthening of institutions remains a key factor in achieving lasting peace and stability in the country.

Mr. Arias (Panama)

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Koenigs, for his briefing on the situation in Afghanistan, and congratulate him on his excellent work at the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). UNAMA plays an invaluable role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and we hope that it will continue to extend its assistance to all Afghan territory so as to bring peace dividends to a people that has known very little peace in recent decades.

We note with concern that acts of violence carried out by insurgents and terrorists have increased since 2006 and are clearly linked to criminal activities, institutional corruption and illegal drug trafficking. The Government of Afghanistan, with the ongoing and tireless support of the international community, must exercise firm political resolve to prevent further backsliding in terms of security. In that respect, we commend and support the Secretary-General's recommendation that Afghanistan and its neighbour Pakistan implement a joint strategy on cross-border peace and security.

Since our debate earlier this year, the security situation in the region has improved. It may be necessary, inter alia, to consider altering the strategy by which the international community is carrying out its mission. For example, in fighting insurgents and terrorists, the international forces execute a great many aerial attacks that have claimed high numbers of innocent civilian victims. It would be appropriate to find alternatives to that and any other policy that undermines the support and good will of the Afghan people for the presence of the international community.

We agree with the opinion expressed in the Secretary-General's report that re-establishing lasting security is a prerequisite of development and requires a multidimensional strategy coordinating military, police, political, and economic and social development activities. UNAMA and the International Security Assistance Force, as well as the coalition forces in Operation Enduring Freedom, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, are key components of that strategy.

Mr. Kumalo (South Africa)

We join others in thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Tom Koenigs, for his valuable presentation of the Secretary-General's latest report on the situation in Afghanistan.

There has been timid progress in such areas as the rule of law, the disbanding of illegal armed groups, and counter-narcotics in Afghanistan. The Secretary-General's report makes it clear that increased insurgent activities, the escalating cultivation of opium poppies, and slow progress in economic and social development persist in Afghanistan. Promoting security and stability in Afghanistan remains the vital challenge currently facing that country. The security problem is clearly the main challenge because it poses a serious threat to nation-building in the country. We support the efforts of the Afghan security forces, in cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force, to maintain security in Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General's report described the state of affairs in Afghanistan in all its complexities. Its paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 may well be the synthesis of the present situation. The Government is making commendable progress in areas such as the economy, reconstruction, development and in strengthening democratic institutions. For this reason, we reiterate our support for the role played by the Joint Coordinating and Monitoring Board and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy.

The report also draws a bleak picture of the narcotics issue in Afghanistan. Despite the efforts by the Government to adopt counter-narcotics measures, the report makes it clear that opium poppy cultivation and production experienced an unprecedented increase in 2007. This increase in poppy cultivation is very alarming and constitutes a growing threat to national security, social stability and governmental effectiveness.

The Secretary-General's report sadly notes once again that civilians continue to bear the consequences of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. Nonetheless, we are encouraged by the fact that United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has started to closely monitor the situation of civilians in armed conflict.

We call on the Government to put additional efforts into the implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy. In addition, we recognize the link between narcotics and development. In this context, we have also encouraged the Government of Afghanistan to provide alternative livelihoods to farmers. We encourage the Government of Afghanistan to improve its institutional capacity for service, delivery and development in support of viable alternatives to poppy cultivation.

We also call on the international community to continue rallying behind Afghan-led efforts to curb the drug problem through development. We welcome the improved relations between Afghanistan and its neighbours. The Secretary-General's report notes in paragraph 26 that "Tensions in the crucial relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan eased during the reporting period". We commend this improvement in the relations between the two countries, as it is critical to foster the trust required to improve security in the border areas and to achieve peace and stability in the region. We would like to stress the importance of regional cooperation in the success of Afghanistan.

On the political front, South Africa supports political dialogue and peaceful efforts aimed at achieving reconciliation and resolving challenges facing the country.

Finally, we believe that the best way to break the cycle of challenges in Afghanistan is to continue sustained international efforts in support of the Government of Afghanistan.

Mr. Matulay (Slovakia)

At the outset, allow me, like previous speakers, to thank Mr. Tom Koenigs, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, for his comprehensive briefing this morning. We also commend his dedication and efforts to accomplish the tasks entrusted to him. Our voice of appreciation extends as well to the staff members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

My delegation aligns itself to the statement to be delivered later by the Portuguese delegation on behalf of the European Union presidency.

It has now been almost six years since the end of the rule of the previous regime in Afghanistan. The country has made significant steps towards political, economic and social development. The role of the United Nations has undoubtedly been instrumental in those strides, as has been that of the international community.

However, in spite of all these efforts, the situation continues to deteriorate, as noted throughout the Secretary-General's report. Opium production has increased so that Afghanistan is almost the world's sole producer. The return of the Taliban is strong in some provinces, posing challenges to the authority of the Government.

We used to note that the situation in Afghanistan is complex and that many factors need to be addressed at the same time for Afghanistan to be able to fulfil its priorities in the strategies adopted for the country. However, it is only security and positive economic outlooks that matter at the end of the day.

Under these conditions, the deterioration of the situation security situation must be addressed as a matter of priority to ensure that the country does not return to overall instability. More needs to be done to increase the manpower of the Afghan National Army and even more to address widespread corruption in the Afghan National Police and the Ministry of the Interior, as all these institutions compose the cornerstone of the public trust and of the confidence invested in the Government.

Security sector reform strategies have to be combined in a more coherent manner with plans for development. The role and the impact of the decisions of the Joint Coordinating and Monitoring Board should be significantly strengthened, as too many actors are currently managing and implementing various pieces of the Afghan National Development Strategy. Fragmentation of foreign aid has been noted many times by Afghan representatives, and that issue has to be seriously addressed.

We would like to support more creative and incentive-based measures by the Afghan Government, such as, for example, the establishment of a well-endowed good performance fund to benefit the provincial administrations that eradicate the poppy. Rewarding compliance with the law has many positive effects on behaviour and on the responsiveness of local actors to the security and development goals of the central Government.

A national reconciliation process has the potential to strongly impact the understanding and cooperation of various groups and communities within Afghanistan with the central Government. It would facilitate regional stabilization, so this process and its results should be supported by the international community in all forums, including the 1267 sanctions Committee. In this sense, we agree with the Belgian Ambassador that that is an important and powerful instrument. We also note the first listing in the Taliban section of the 1267 consolidated lists after almost six years of no activity.

UNAMA has played an indispensable role in contributing to an atmosphere conducive to the establishment of stability and economic development and to cooperation of various stakeholders currently in the field. At this stage, UNAMA will continue to take a central role in promoting international commitment to support the Afghanistan Compact, coordinate humanitarian assistance, contribute to the protection of human rights and support regional cooperation. We continue to encourage UNAMA to promote its presence in the provinces and to strengthen its partnership with local authorities.

Slovakia supports international efforts in Afghanistan through its bilateral, in kind and military contributions. At the same time, it is looking for all other possible ways to assist the Afghan Administration throughout this difficult period of time.

Sir John Sawers (United Kingdom)

I thank Mr. Koenigs for his statement today and the Secretary-General for the very thorough and comprehensive report.

As we review the present situation in Afghanistan, it is important to recognize how much progress has been made since 2001 and the fall of the Taliban. At the same time, I do not think anyone -- certainly not the United Kingdom -- underestimates the challenges ahead. The emergence of a new democracy is always a fragile process. Democracy is taking root in Afghanistan. The task of the international community, led by the United Nations, is to nourish and support it.

The United Nations is key to coordination of international community, particularly in Kabul itself. Some important progress has been made, as Mr. Koenigs has set out, including through the work of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board. There is much more to do, including on the institutional challenges that are so clearly set out in this report.

We also look forward to a further expansion of United Nations efforts and presence in Afghanistan, including to provinces of the south. Afghanistan also needs the positive support of its neighbours. We welcome the steps taken in the last few months on Afghan-Pakistani cooperation, including August's peace jirga.

As the report of the Secretary-General acknowledges, international forces are playing a crucial role in helping to bring about a stable and secure Afghanistan. We pay tribute to those of all nationalities, including many Afghans, who have lost their lives in doing so. Like others, we are appalled by the tactics used by the opponents of democracy, including the increased use of suicide bombers. The contrast between those risking their lives to allow Afghans to build a better future and those determined to return Afghanistan to its dark past is stark indeed.

The other element in the equation is building the capacity of the Afghan security forces. The report of the Secretary-General recognizes the work being done by the international community in supporting the increasingly capable Afghan National Army. The task of building police capacity remains more of a challenge. We welcome the conclusions of the Secretary-General on the need for an effective civilian-military strategy. We agree that, while we must continue to ensure there is a coordinated military response to the insurgency, that must go hand in hand with development and reconstruction activity, as part of an integrated approach to the challenges faced by Afghanistan.

As we have made clear in this Council on previous occasions, the United Kingdom considers every civilian death in Afghanistan a death too many. As the Secretary-General acknowledges, international forces operating in Afghanistan have made real efforts to minimize civilian casualties in an operating environment in which the enemy forces take no such precautions.

Delivering security is only part of the wider effort on the rule of law. As the report of the Secretary-General highlights, tackling the endemic corruption is a prerequisite for a credible and effective police force. The United Kingdom will continue to support work to tackle that issue, in which the European Union policing mission will play a key role.

We are all aware that the insurgency cannot be defeated by military means alone. The United Kingdom has given substantial support to the Afghan-led "Strengthening Peace" programme. We fully support efforts to bring disaffected Afghans into society's mainstream, provided that they renounce violence and accept Afghanistan's Constitution. We are also supporting community-led solutions to the problem of maintaining local security.

As the partner nation in the counter-narcotics effort, allow me to say a few words about recent developments. The increase in opium cultivation that Mr. Koenigs described is clearly very disappointing. We should also look at the wider picture, however. Where security and the rule of law and good governance -- and behind that, diversification of the local economy -- exist, we are seeing progress on counter-narcotics. That is particularly evident in the north, and we clearly need to do more, and with more success, in the south of the country.

We agree with the report of the Secretary-General that there are now clear and growing links between the drug trade and the insurgency. We must focus on keeping those separate. Our new package of measures, released on 9 August, includes enhanced interdiction efforts, improving the performance of eradication forces, investigating the scope for new economic incentives and integrating counter-narcotics into our counter-insurgency efforts in the south.

As this is going to be Mr. Koenigs' last appearance before this Council, I would like to join others in expressing our heartfelt thanks for all the work and commitment that he has shown over the last two years. We are very grateful to him.

Finally, I associate myself with the statement to be made shortly by Portugal on behalf of the European Union.

Mr. Natalegawa (Indonesia)

Allow me to join other speakers in expressing our appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Tom Koenigs, for his briefing on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

Since the launch of the Bonn Agreement in 2001, peace and stability have been taking root in Afghanistan. Progress in the political and socio-economic sectors of the country has been notable. Nonetheless, violence threatens to disrupt those attainments. Suicide bombing and violent attacks are increasingly common in Afghanistan. The increase in violent attacks within the country in the past several months, we understand, has undermined confidence in the future and prevented access by the Government and aid organizations to many districts.

My delegation believes that addressing the security challenges is a matter of urgency in order to prevent Afghanistan from sliding back into conflict. In that regard, we recognize the importance of the measures taken by the Afghan National Army, in collaboration with the International Security Assistance Force, in responding to the insurgency activities. We are also encouraged by the efforts to augment the Afghan National Police.

While recognizing the significance of the effective integration of a civilian-military strategy within the security plan for Afghanistan, Indonesia attaches great importance to respect the protection of civilians and the principles of international human rights and humanitarian laws whenever security operations are carried out in the country.

Indonesia also believes that the military approach cannot fully address the root causes of the re-emergence of the insurgency. We therefore underline the importance of political dialogue and reconciliation involving all factions in Afghanistan. We look forward to further progress in the implementation of the Action Plan on Peace, Reconciliation and Justice. We hold the view that it is important to help every single Afghan embrace a new Afghanistan. It is important to find ways and means to prevent them from turning to militancy. It is also important to include them in the political, social and economic processes at all levels.

Achieving a secure and stable Afghanistan becomes more daunting with the continued presence of the narco-economy. The sharp increase in opium production in 2007 has exacerbated the security condition in Afghanistan. It poses a grave threat to both reconstruction and nation-building in the country.

Since players in the narco-economy work across borders, cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours in counter-narcotics operations is very important. Accordingly, Indonesia welcomes the signing of a trilateral agreement between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan in June 2007. Indonesia also believes that the international community should support the Afghan-led plan to address that problem, going beyond eradication efforts.

As Afghanistan is steadily embracing democracy, the need to strengthen the institutional foundation of the democratic transition in the country remains vital. Additional efforts must be exerted in order to ensure that such institutions as the Anti-Corruption Commission established by President Karzai deliver results.

The key to a robust democracy in Afghanistan is the adoption of the electoral law by the end of 2007. The adoption of such a law by the Afghan Government and the National Assembly will be instrumental to the upcoming cycle of presidential elections in the country. My delegation underlines in that regard the importance of continued support and assistance from the international community for the institutional strengthening and capacity-building of democratic institutions in Afghanistan.

A peaceful and stable environment is important to Afghanistan in order for it to achieve internal sustainability. We welcome in that regard Afghanistan's commitment to contributing to regional security and prosperity through concrete steps, including its accession to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Afghanistan-Pakistan peace jirga and the participation of President Karzai in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The inauguration of a transit bridge between Afghanistan and Tajikistan in August 2007 has both symbolic and substantive meaning.

The continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan remains vital. Thus Indonesia welcomes the convening of the high-level meeting on Afghanistan in New York on 23 September 2007. My delegation is hopeful that the reaffirmation of support by delegations participating in the meeting will bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not say a few words on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The role of UNAMA becomes more important with the increasing number of challenges to Afghan security and reconstruction efforts. As the Mission's engagement has been reinforced by resolution 1746 (2007), there is in our view an urgent need for ensuring that UNAMA and other international actors engaged in Afghanistan have the mandate and resources needed to fulfil the required tasks and to move the country's development in a positive direction. My delegation wishes to reiterate its full support for UNAMA and its work in Afghanistan.

Mr. Churkin (Russia)

We would like to thank Mr. Koenigs for his efforts and his briefing on the situation in Afghanistan and for introducing the report of the Secretary-General.

It is absolutely clear that during the time that has elapsed since the overthrow of the Taliban regime, the country, with the assistance of the international community, has been able to achieve certain successes in State-building. The relevant assessments were made by the participants in the high-level conference on the Afghan problem, which took place in New York in September.

At the same time, however, the situation in Afghanistan remains unstable and, in a number of areas, tense. This is linked primarily to the continuing increase in terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida followers and other extremists, as well as to the lack of a solution to key socio-economic problems.

Of particular concern is the fact that, practically speaking, extremists are in control of a considerable number of regions, and parallel structures of power are being formed in those areas. Moreover, Taliban leaders continue to spread a radical world view incompatible with the country's objectives of democratic development and advocating the continuation of violence in Afghanistan.

In such circumstances, it is necessary to pursue the policy of isolating extremist ringleaders, first and foremost those who are on the sanctions lists of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), while preserving for rank and file Taliban not tarred with the brush of war crimes the possibility of returning to peaceful life. It is precisely that kind of policy which must be followed by the United Nations Mission in the framework of carrying out its mandate.

The diversionary activities of extremists and terrorists are being fuelled by significant financial sources; the principal source continues to be drug trafficking. The major surge in the illegal production of drugs is a source of concern. Anti-drug efforts must be substantially stepped up, both in and around the territory of Afghanistan, through the creation of a comprehensive system comprising an anti-drug and financial security belt, with a coordinating role played by the United Nations and with the participation of neighbouring countries.

More use must be made of the potential of regional organizations, which have proven their effectiveness in working in this area, in particular the Treaty on Collective Security Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). We believe that, in combating the Afghan drug trade, it would be useful to establish constructive cooperation between the CSTO and NATO. Evidence of this is the success of the NATO-Russia Council's pilot project on training counter-narcotics police officers for Afghanistan and countries of Central Asia; this was based at the Russian training centre at Domodedovo.

The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, held in Bishkek, reaffirmed that organization's broad potential in the implementation of stabilization programmes in Afghanistan, including in the counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics areas. The SCO has significant potential in moving forward peacekeeping initiatives, as reflected in the adoption of Russia's proposal to hold a regional conference on Afghanistan under SCO auspices.

There is still an imperative need for the full implementation of the objectives set out in the London agreement. Maintaining the existing ethnic balance in the organs of State power and administration is also important for consolidating the foundations of internal peace in Afghanistan. The search for possible compromise solutions in this sphere must be carried out by the Afghans themselves, without external pressure.

Military measures alone are insufficient to deal with Afghanistan's problems. At present, there is a need to focus on the revival, under United Nations auspices, of the Afghan economy, which has been virtually destroyed. The Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board is playing a useful role here. Russia is actively working in this area, participating in the implementation of a number of projects to rebuild Afghan energy and transport infrastructure. Another of our contributions to the stabilization of the country's economic situation is the agreement on the settlement of the Afghan debt to Russia, recently signed in Moscow.

Mr. Spatafora (Italy)

Italy fully aligns itself with the statement to be delivered shortly by the Permanent Representative of Portugal on behalf of the European Union (EU). I will therefore only add a few remarks in my national capacity.

At the outset, I wish to thank Mr. Koenigs wholeheartedly, not only for his enlightening briefing, but also, more generally, for his outstanding stewardship of the United Nations presence in Afghanistan. Since his appointment almost two years ago, Mr. Koenigs has been able to effectively speak with wisdom and authority, on each and every occasion, on behalf of the Security Council and of the entire international community. It is crucial that we continue to stand united in supporting the Afghan people, rallying behind the impartial and central role of the United Nations. Without the legitimacy provided by the Organization, our commitment would simply be impossible to sustain. The daily sacrifice of military personnel and civilians, Afghan and international alike, is dignified by our shared goals, which are at the core of the principles on which the Organization is built. Our solidarity goes to all the victims of the senseless violence that Afghanistan is enduring, a violence that has not spared Italian nationals.

The high-level event that was held three weeks ago in this building was a unique opportunity to take stock of the progress made in Afghanistan and to reinvigorate our common commitment to address the outstanding challenges, thereby helping the Afghan people to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country. The report (S/2007/555) before us, along with the additional briefing given today by the Special Representative, reminds us of the entity of these challenges with remarkable frankness.

As emphasized by our Foreign Minister at the high-level event, coordination is the key word and the only recipe for success in such a complex scenario. This means coordination among donors, coordination between the donor community and the Afghan authorities, coordination between the Government and the international security forces and coordination among the political, economic development and military dimensions of our efforts. That list could be even longer. Sometimes we fall short of our objectives simply because coordination mechanisms are not in place or are not properly used. For that reason, the Compact framework and the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board mechanism are essential and must be further consolidated, including through guidance at the political level as necessary.

In the Secretary-General's report, compelling arguments are put forward to define the need for a new, integrated political and military strategy. In our resolutions, we have repeatedly called for greater synergy between the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and between them and the Afghan Government. Such calls must be translated into action to ensure that our military, political and reconstruction efforts make a positive difference in the lives of the Afghan people, rather than the opposite, and that they result in increased public confidence in the legitimate authorities. We fully share the Secretary-General's emphasis on the idea that all of our actions at this crucial juncture should be confidence-oriented and closely coordinated with the Afghan Government. We cannot afford to lose the trust of the Afghan people.

In this regard, we are confident that our efforts to prevent popular alienation will be reinforced by the renewed Afghan commitment to improve governance and the rule of law, particularly at the local level, and to promote national reconciliation within the framework of the Afghan constitution. Such measures become all the more urgent as we approach the 2009 elections.

Here, once again, the United Nations can play a key role, on the basis of the increasingly focused mandate of UNAMA outlined in resolution 1746 (2007). It is, therefore, essential to support the proposal made by the Secretary-General in his report concerning UNAMA's international staff. We believe that Member States could hardly make a better investment. Let me emphasize once again that, in our view, UNAMA must be given all the political support and resources to fulfil its complex mandate in a challenging environment.

The representative of Portugal, speaking on behalf of the presidency of the European Union, will elaborate on the progress made on two issues that, in our view, are the keystones for the sustainability of our efforts, namely, the foundation of functional and professional Afghan security forces and the creation of an environment conducive to regional security. I will only add that Italy will spare no effort to promote further progress in those areas. For example, we are favourably considering the Afghan request to support the organization in Herat, later this month, of the ministerial conference of the Economic Cooperation Organization. More generally, we pay tribute to all actors contributing to those endeavours. We are proud that, through the European Union Police Mission, the Union is actively engaged in the police reform process.

Let me conclude by expressing to our Afghan friends our regret over the sudden interruption, a few days ago, of the de facto moratorium on executions in Afghanistan. Our absolute opposition to the death penalty is very well known and has not wavered in the least by the fact that Italian nationals were among the victims of the crimes of which one of the executed was convicted. A moratorium is particularly important in those cases where further progress is still needed in the reform of law enforcement agencies and the judicial sector.

Finally, I would take like to take this opportunity to reiterate that Italy remains fully committed to helping Afghan authorities to build a professional, accountable and effective justice system in line with the highest international standards. I am glad to report that we are working hard, together with our Afghan and international partners, to ensure the full and timely implementation of the successful outcomes of the Rome Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan, which was held in July.

The President

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ghana.

We would like to thank the Special Representative for his comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the current situation in Afghanistan. We once again wish to commend the efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), bilateral donors and all others working with the Government of Afghanistan to stabilize the country and improve the well-being of its people. In that connection, we welcome the steady progress made towards economic revival and the development of infrastructure, as well as the reform of key sectors such as law enforcement, the judiciary, education, health and local government. With determined leadership committed to change coupled with sustained and well-coordinated international support, the people of Afghanistan will realize their democratic and cultural aspirations in a modernized State.

At the same time, we acknowledge that they currently face formidable challenges stemming from weak institutions of governance and the pervading violence and lawlessness resulting from the insurgency, in particular in the southern and eastern parts of the country. In that connection, the report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/555) contains a number of concrete recommendations that my delegation believes deserve careful consideration. Although the support of the international community is crucial, it is equally essential that the leadership of Afghanistan makes effective use of all available opportunities to strengthen the rule of law, promote human rights and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, thereby strengthening the integrity of the State.

We agree that the Government must be resolute in purging from the security, law enforcement and judiciary services those elements whose activities tend to erode public confidence in the Government. My delegation regards as most worrying the finding that some law enforcement agents, politicians and public officials are colluding with narcotraffickers to obstruct justice, thereby promoting impunity. Afghanistan is threatened by a vicious circle in which the very State institutions responsible for deterring and suppressing crime are providing the enabling environment for crime to flourish. If unchecked, that development could reverse the gains that have been made by NATO and ISAF and hinder progress in stabilizing the remaining parts of the country.

Additionally, the problematic security situation is also contributing to widespread human rights abuses, including violence against women in prisons, not to mention the denial of humanitarian relief to needy segments of the population. As is pointed out in the report of the Secretary-General, the security sector problem goes beyond capacity building and the shortage of personnel; it is also a function of the strength of the determination of the leadership to confront those forces that thrive best in a climate of violence and lawlessness.

In the light of the foregoing, the marked improvement in relations between Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours -- especially India and Pakistan -- is a positive development that has the potential to change the dynamics of the security situation in the country, and indeed in the entire region, for the better. We urge the Government of Afghanistan to speed up the reform of the security sector so that it can take full advantage of the new momentum for cooperation with its neighbours.

While my delegation fully appreciates the constraints facing the Government, we are concerned nonetheless that the status quo has implications far beyond the country. In those circumstances, we believe that a conscious effort must be made in the next phase of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy to empower Afghan civil society to complement the efforts of both the Government and the international community. An enhanced role for UNAMA, coupled with additional human and material resources, would be a step in the right direction.

I now resume my functions as the President of the Council.

The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Afghanistan, on whom I now call.

Mr. Tanin (Afghanistan)

Allow me to begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of October. I also wish to express our appreciation for the convening of today's important meeting. We are grateful to Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his detailed briefing. I should also like to express my delegation's appreciation to the Secretary-General for his recent report (S/2007/555) on Afghanistan, which offers a comprehensive overview of the overall situation in the country.

Less than a month ago, we gathered at a special high-level meeting on Afghanistan that was co-hosted by the Secretary-General and President Karzai and was held prior to the General Assembly's general debate at its sixty-second session. The meeting, which brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives of the 22 States members of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) of the Afghanistan Compact and various international organizations, was another opportunity to assess ways of enhancing greater coordination of international efforts to strengthen peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. We were pleased with the outcome of the meeting, which attested to the overwhelming consensus among Member States on the need to keep Afghanistan among the top priorities of the international community and the United Nations. We would also like to welcome the unity with which participants reiterated the need for improved strategic coordination in four key areas, namely, security, counter-narcotics, regional cooperation and governance. Such coordination will be fundamental to achieving the vision of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Significant gains have been made in Afghanistan since the signing of the Bonn Agreement, six years ago. Thanks to the support of the Council and other partners in the international community, Afghanistan no longer serves as a base for international terrorists; rather, it has become the frontline from which countries have joined hands in the fight against terrorism. We have regained our legitimacy among responsible members of the international community. We are continuing to make steady progress in consolidating our democratic institutions.

At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that daunting challenges continue to confront a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. That is why we continue to focus on defeating terrorism and improving security, strengthening the rule of law and governance, enhancing the reconstruction process, and eliminating the menace of narcotics as our top priorities.

Terrorism is the main challenge facing us. Recent events of the past two weeks are a clear illustration of the ongoing campaign by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan that is aimed at destabilizing the situation. In their most recent acts of sheer brutality, terrorists carried out suicide bombings in the frontier town of Spin Buldak and in the Afghan capital, targeting civilians and members of the National Army and Police. At least 80 civilians lost their lives in suicide attacks in September. The carnage was a stark reminder of the continuing challenge facing the people of Afghanistan as they seek to live in peace and security. Additional attacks have come in the form of increased use of sophisticated explosive devices, abductions and intimidation, and daily attacks on schools and health centres, and on Government officials and humanitarian aid workers. Terrorists have also resorted to the brutal tactic of using human shields during counter-terrorism operations, which constitutes the main cause of loss of civilian lives.

I should like to reaffirm here that such heinous acts will in no way weaken our resolve to achieve our stated goals. That is why our security forces continue to serve in the most difficult of conditions alongside forces of our international partners in order to consolidate security throughout the country and stop the explosion of violence.

Over recent months, we have made substantial progress in weakening the command and control structure of the terrorist networks in Afghanistan. Joint combat operations by Afghan and international forces resulted in the capture and elimination of an unprecedented number of commanders of the Taliban and extremists. As a case in point, the deaths of Mullah Akhter Osmani and Mullah Dahdullah at the beginning of this year were among numerous achievements in the fight against terrorism. In this regard, we remain concerned over the increased use of foreign extremist elements in the campaign of terror against our people.

We have also taken action to strengthen the sanctions regime against terrorists, in accordance with resolution 1267 (1999). Just last month, Sayeedur Rahman Haqani, the mastermind behind numerous suicide bombings in various parts of the country, was listed on the consolidated list of the 1267 Committee at the request of the Afghan Government.

Improving overall security in Afghanistan is dependent on a variety of factors. Ensuring a fully efficient and operational National Army and Police is vital to our fight against terrorism. Despite substantial progress in reforming our security institutions and increasing the size of our National Army and Police, we call for continued assistance in strengthening and enhancing the training of our security forces.

Meanwhile, it has also become evident that addressing terrorism and improving security in Afghanistan will not be achieved by military means alone. While the military campaign remains an important pillar in the fight against terrorism, we must also redouble our efforts on all aspects of a comprehensive strategy to achieve long-term security and stability. We must focus more on expediting the delivery of basic services and creating employment opportunities through large scale reconstruction and development projects, in order to bring about real change in the lives of our citizens. In doing so, we will prevent the possibility of subversive elements enjoying local sympathy. In this regard, we call upon on our international partners to ensure greater military coordination with Afghan security forces during combat operations in order to prevent the loss of civilian lives during counter-terrorism operations. All measures must be implemented to avoid harm to civilians during armed hostilities.

Furthermore, more must be done to address terrorism in its regional and international dimensions. The presence of terrorist infrastructure outside of Afghanistan's territory is a source of continuing concern to Afghanistan and the region. In the printed version of his address to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, President Karzai emphasized

"that we were the prime victim of terrorism and that terrorism was never, nor is it today, a home-grown phenomenon in Afghanistan. Therefore, this threat can only be overcome if addressed across its regional and international dimensions. Consistent with our belief as expressed in the past, we remain convinced that tolerating the presence of sanctuaries and terrorist infrastructure will only broaden the scope of terrorism".

As part of the initiatives to ensure long-term stability, Afghanistan continues to focus on reconciliation as a measure to encourage non-terrorist Taliban to refrain from subversive activities and join the process of building a prosperous Afghanistan. Such measures, which take place within the framework of national reconciliation, are welcomed by our people. In this regard, we are working with the 1267 Committee to update and improve the quality of the consolidated list.

Regional cooperation is indispensable for success in our efforts to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan. There is a greater consensus in our neighbourhood on the notion that the advent of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a precondition for the security and prosperity of all countries in the region. This year we maximized our efforts to consolidate relations with our neighbours and the wider region in the areas of security, trade, investment, border cooperation and counter-narcotics. The convening of the sixth meeting of the Joint Coordination Body (JCB) in Kabul on 3 October was an important step in that regard.

As a country that once served as a land bridge connecting cultures, countries and civilizations, Afghanistan is surely but gradually reassuming its role in promoting trade and development in the region. In that regard, I am pleased to announce that we are preparing to host the upcoming international meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the city of Herat on 19 October. This meeting will be the first international gathering to be held in one of Afghanistan's historic provinces.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan jirga that took place just over a month ago was the most recent among numerous meetings initiated by Afghanistan to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in order to jointly address the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and throughout the region. We have every reason to believe that that assembly will yield the anticipated results. We also look forward to the second session of the jirga to be held in Pakistan in the near future.

Another major challenge is narcotics. Why this menace remains of concern to Afghanistan and the international community can been attributed to a combination of factors. It has become evident that eliminating the scourge of narcotics from our society and the region is an endeavour unattainable by Afghanistan alone. Real progress towards reduction and elimination requires a more robust effort from the transit and consumer countries. Greater focus should also be given to breaking the link between the production and trafficking of illegal drugs and the financing of terrorist activities.

In adopting the Afghanistan Compact, we committed ourselves to a second phase of cooperation with our international partners in order to consolidate our achievements. Now that we have reached a turning point in the effort to achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, the time has come for us to intensify our focus on the implementation of the Compact. Additional measures are necessary if we are to ensure that the goals of the Compact are met within the designated timelines.

In that context, we acknowledge the need to exert greater efforts to improve the effectiveness, accountability and utilization of development assistance. While expressing gratitude to our international partners for their assistance to Afghanistan, we emphasize the need to ensure delivery of pledges in a timely manner. Also essential is the need for increased financial assistance in achieving our development goals.

If we are to accomplish tangible results across key pillars of the Compact, we must ensure greater coordination of international assistance to Afghanistan. We call on our international partners to increase the level of coordination and cooperation among themselves and with the Afghan Government. Enhanced coordination will result in greater unity of assessment, unity of approach and unity of action. In that regard, we commend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for its continuing commitment to implement the effective coordination of the international community's efforts with Afghanistan.

We are also grateful to the Council for its adoption of resolution 1776 (2007), extending the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force for an additional year. In that regard, allow me to express our appreciation to all of those countries that have committed troops and resources to ISAF for the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan greatly values the ongoing role of the United Nations and the efforts to secure peace and stability in the country. We welcome the expansion of the presence of UNAMA to additional areas of the country as a clear sign of United Nations efforts to reach out to various parts of the country. I also wish to seize this opportunity to express my delegation's appreciation to the Secretary-General for his personal engagement and commitment to improve the situation in Afghanistan, as illustrated by his visit to Kabul in June and by his initiative to convene the high-level meeting on Afghanistan on 23 September.

I would like to express my country's gratitude to our international partners for their ongoing commitment to Afghanistan. We remain confident that together we will fulfil our commitment, our common vision of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan.

In conclusion, I would like to pay special tribute to Mr. Tom Koenigs for his tireless efforts during his tenure in Afghanistan as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.

The President

The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Portugal, to whom I give the floor.

Mr. Salgueiro (Portugal)

For the sake of efficiency and in order to save time, I will shorten my oral statement today. The full text has been distributed.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Armenia align themselves with this declaration.

With the support of the international community, Afghanistan has achieved significant progress in recent years. This was also confirmed on the occasion of the recent high-level meeting held at the United Nations on 23 September. But serious challenges remain threatening to undermine the achievements to date.

We share the concern of the Secretary-General about the many issues that present challenges to the short- and long-term security and stability of Afghanistan that have not yet been resolved. In his earlier reports to the Council, the Secretary-General expressed concern at the increasing trends in violence and challenges to State authority.

We recognize the central role played by the United Nations in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community and thus contributing to Afghanistan not being alone as it faces its current manifold challenges. In that context, we welcome the adoption of Security Council resolution 1776 (2007) on 19 September, which renewed the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and resolution 1746 (2007) on 23 March 2007, which extended the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandate. We would like to take this opportunity to commend UNAMA under the excellent leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Tom Koenigs.

The International Security Assistance Force led by NATO since August 2003 has been crucial in improving security, initially in Kabul and later through its programme of phased expansion in the north, west, south and east of the country. To that effect we recognize the importance of increasing the effective functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector to provide long-term solutions to security in Afghanistan.

The European Union expresses its concern with the intensified Taliban-led insurgency. Taliban and insurgent groups continue to prevent full security in a number of areas, while rates of insurgent and terrorism violence are higher than in 2006 and criminal and drug gangs continue to grow. We are deeply concerned with the expansion of opium poppy cultivation by 17 per cent and potential opium production by 34 per cent. The unprecedented increase of opium production in 2007 poses a grave threat to reconstruction and nation-building in Afghanistan.

In that context, it is crucial for Afghanistan to have a viable police force. We, the European Union, have been accelerating efforts to that end through launching the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) this past June. The European police mission is working towards an Afghan police force that respects human rights and operates within the framework of the rule of law. Moreover, the mission is addressing issues of police reform at the central, regional and provincial levels in close coordination with its partners.

At the same time, we must not overlook the fact that some important steps have been taken. At the regional level, the European Union positively notes the more collaborative atmosphere that has begun to prevail in Afghan-Pakistani relations, with the recognition that terrorism was a shared challenge. Therefore, we congratulate the peace jirga that took place in Kabul between Presidents Karzai and Musharraf in August 2007, and the joint declaration that resulted from that event. Peace, security and stability in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without the positive support of the countries in the region.

Afghan commitment on good governance is needed. Only by appointing qualified Government officials with a good human rights record, providing enough provincial government capacity and implementing the anti-corruption road map can an effective and legitimate administration can be realized. The adoption of such measures becomes all the more urgent as we approach the 2009 elections.

It is with deep regret that the European Union has learned of the recent execution of 15 people. The European Union opposes the death penalty in all cases. We urge the Government of Afghanistan to reinstate the moratorium on the