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Cablegate: Instructions (Part One) for the Resolution On

Published: Sat 3 Nov 2007 02:15 AM
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TAGS: PREL PHUM MOPS AF UN
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS (PART ONE) FOR THE RESOLUTION ON
"THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN" IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1. This is an Action request. USUN is instructed to join
in co-sponsoring and vote in favor of the resolution on
The Situation in Afghanistan, begun in para 2, to be
debated in the UN General Assembly on Monday, November 5.
Because of the length of the resolution text, the
Department is sending this message in two parts. USUN is
also instructed to draw on the points contained in the
separate (PART 2) instruction cable in making our
Explanation of Vote.
2. Begin Resolution Text:
The General Assembly,
Preamble Paragraphs
(General References)
(1) Recalling its resolution 61/18 of 28 November 2006
and all its previous relevant resolutions,
(2) Recalling also all relevant Security Council
resolutions
and statements by the President of the Council on the
situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1659
(2006) of 15 February 2006, 1746 (2007) of 23 March
2007 and 1776 (2007) of 19 September 2007, as well as
the statement by the President of the Council on 17 July
2007,
(3) Expressing its strong commitment to the
implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the
annexes thereto, which provide the framework for the
partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and
the international community based on the desire of both
for Afghanistan to progressively assume responsibility for
its own development and security and stressing the need
for sustained international efforts to support Afghanistan
achieve this end,
(4) Reaffirming its strong commitment to the
sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and
national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its
multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage,
(Security)
(5) Recognising once again the interconnected nature of
the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that
sustainable progress on security, governance and
development, as well as the cross-cutting theme of
counter-narcotics, is mutually reinforcing, and welcoming
the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the
international community to address these challenges in a
coherent manner,
(6) Reiterating the urgent need to tackle the challenges
in Afghanistan, in particular the increased violent
criminal and terrorist activities by the Taliban,
Al-Qaida, illegally armed groups and those involved in the
narcotics trade, in particular in the south and east, and
the development of Afghan Government institutions,
including at the sub national level, the strengthening of
the rule of law, the acceleration of justice sector
reform, the promotion of national reconciliation, without
prejudice to the fulfillment of the measures introduced by
the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15
October 1999 and other relevant resolutions, and an
Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe and
voluntary return of Afghan refugees and internally
displaced persons in an orderly and dignified manner, the
promotion and protection of human rights and the
advancement of economic and social development,
(7) Condemning in this context attacks against both Afghan
and foreign nationals committed to supporting the
consolidation of peace, stability and development in
Afghanistan, in particular United Nations and diplomatic
staff, national and international humanitarian and
development personnel, Afghan National Security Forces,
the International Security Assistance Force, as well as
the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, and noting with
concern that the lack of security is causing some
organizations to cease or curtail their humanitarian and
development work in some parts of Afghanistan,
(8) Recognizing the progress achieved, while nonetheless
remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions
of anti-personnel land mines and explosive remnants of
war, which constitute a great danger for the population
and a major obstacle for the resumption of economic
activities and for recovery and reconstruction efforts,
(9) Noting that, despite improvements in building the
security sector, increased terrorist attacks caused by the
Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, in
particular in the south and east of Afghanistan and the
lack of security caused by criminal activity, terrorism
and the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs,
and the increasingly strong nexus between the drug trade
and the terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and
other extremist groups remain a serious challenge,
threatening the democratic process as well as
reconstruction and economic development,
(10) Noting also that the responsibility for providing
security and law and order throughout the country resides
with the Government of Afghanistan supported by the
Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom
coalition, recognizing the institutional progress achieved
in this respect and the continued coordination between
ISAF and the OEF coalition and, deeply concerned about the
recent increase in violence, and stressing the importance
of further extending central government authority
including the presence of Afghan security forces to all
provinces of Afghanistan,
(11) Welcoming the completion of ISAF's expansion
throughout Afghanistan, and noting in the context of the
comprehensive approach the synergies in the objectives
of UNAMA and of ISAF,
(12) Commending the Afghan National Army and the Afghan
National Police, the Assistance Force and the Operation
Enduring Freedom coalition for their efforts to improve
security conditions in Afghanistan,
(13) Acknowledging, in this context, that the Afghan
National Army and the Afghan National Police require
additional support to enhance their capability and
professionalism, including through the provision of
increased training and more modern equipment and welcoming
in this regard the deployment of the European Union Police
Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL),
(14) Stressing that regional cooperation constitutes an
effective means to promote security and development in
Afghanistan,
(15) Welcoming in this regard recent initiatives to
reinforce regional cooperation including the establishment
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan
Contact Group,
(16) Also welcoming Afghanistan's entry into the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), at
the SAARC summit, 3-4 April 2007, as an opportunity to
further promote regional economic cooperation for
development,
(Governance/ Rule of Law/ Human Rights)
(17) Reaffirming its continued support for the spirit and
the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001,
of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto,
of 1 April 2004 and of the Afghanistan Compact of 31
January 2006, and pledging its continued support, after
the successful completion of the political transition, to
the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild
their country, strengthen the foundations of a
constitutional democracy and resume their rightful place
in the community of nations,
(18) Noting the importance of the national Government
being representative of the ethnic diversity of the
country
and ensuring also the full and equal participation of
women,
(19) Welcoming recent steps to enhance Afghan and
international commitment to justice sector reform as
outlined at the Rome Conference on the Rule of Law in
Afghanistan, on 2-3 July 2007,
(20) Recalling the guarantee of human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the Constitution
as a significant step towards an improved situation of
human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for
women and children, and expressing its concern over the
harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities
by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, and other extremist groups on the
capacity of the Afghan government to guarantee the rule
of law,
(21) Recalling Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) on
children and armed conflict,
(22) Expressing its concern about all civilian casualties,
and reiterating its call for all feasible steps to be
taken to ensure the protection of civilian lives and for
international humanitarian and human rights law to be
upheld,
(23) Recalling Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of
31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and
applauding the progress achieved in the empowerment of
women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the
political process, which will help to consolidate durable
peace and national stability in Afghanistan, while noting
the need to promote the empowerment of women also at
the provincial level,
(24) Noting with concern reports of continued violations
of human rights and of international humanitarian law
and violent or discriminatory practices including "honour
killings" in certain parts of the country, particularly
targeting women and girls, and stressing the need for
adherence to international standards of tolerance and
religious freedom and for judicial investigation and
prosecution of relevant cases,
(25) Condemning recent cases of abducting and even
killing of journalists and other civilians by terrorist
and extremist groups,
(Economic and Social Development)
(26) Encouraging the completion of the interim Afghanistan
National Development Strategy by early 2008 as well as
further efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals,
(27) Welcoming the outcome of the Regional Economic
Cooperation Conferences (RECC) in Kabul, 4-5 December
2005 and New Delhi, 18-19 November 2006 as well as of
the Enabling Environment Conference in Kabul, 4 - 5
June 2007, and of the 17th Ministerial meeting of the
Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Herat, 1720
October 2007, also welcoming Pakistan's offer to host
the next Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences in
early 2008,
(28) Welcoming also the continuing and growing
ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts
by the Government of Afghanistan, and emphasizing the
crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of
governance and to improve institutional capabilities,
including at the provincial level, in order to use aid
more effectively,
(29) Expressing its appreciation for the humanitarian
assistance work of the international community in the
reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, recognizing
the necessity of further addressing the slow pace of
change in the living conditions of the Afghan people, and
noting the need to strengthen and support the capacity of
the Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic social
services, in particular education and public health
services, and to promote development,
(30) Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and
internally displaced persons, in a voluntary and
sustainable manner, while noting with concern that
conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive
to safe and sustainable returns to some places of origin,
(31) Recognising that under-development and lack of
capacity increase Afghanistan's vulnerability to natural
disasters and to harsh climate conditions,
(32) Expressing its appreciation for the work of the
provincial reconstruction teams and of the executive
steering committee,
(Counter Narcotics a Cross-Cutting Priority)
(33) Deeply concerned about the increased cultivation
and production of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan as well
as the drug trafficking and the increasingly strong nexus
between the drug trade and terrorist activities by the
Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups which are
undermining stability and security as well as the
political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and has
dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond,
and commending the reaffirmed commitment of the
Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this
pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law
enforcement measures,
(34) Recalling the updated National Drug Control
Strategy and recognizing that the social and economic
development of Afghanistan, specifically the development
of alternative gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the
formal productive sector, is an important element of the
successful implementation of this Strategy and depends
to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation
with the Government of Afghanistan,
(Coordination and Monitoring/ UN)
(35) Expressing its appreciation and strong support for
the central and impartial role that the Secretary-General
and his Special Representative continue to play in the
consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan and
stressing the central role of UNAMA to promote a more
coherent international engagement to ensure a seamless
transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian
relief to recovery and reconstruction, also stressing the
need for further sustained cooperation, coordination and
mutual support between the international community and
the Afghan government,
(36) Welcoming the work of the Joint Coordination and
Monitoring Board established by the Afghanistan Compact as
an instrument to further improve coordination between the
Government of Afghanistan and its international partners
and to monitor the implementation of all benchmarks,
(37) Recognizing the need for a continued strong
international commitment to humanitarian assistance and
for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of
Afghanistan, of recovery, rehabilitation and
reconstruction, and expressing, at the same time, its
appreciation to the United Nations system and to all
States and international and non-governmental
organizations whose international and local staff continue
to respond positively to the humanitarian, transition and
development needs of Afghanistan despite increasing
security concerns and difficulties of access in certain
areas,
(Operative Paragraphs)
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General and the
recommendations contained therein;
(Security)
2. Strongly condemns the upsurge of violence, including
the rising trend of suicide attacks, in Afghanistan,
particularly in the southern and eastern parts, owing to
the increased violent and terrorist activity by the
Taliban, Al-Qaida, other extremist groups and those
involved in the narcotics trade, which has resulted in
increased casualties among Afghan civilians, Afghan
National Security Forces, the International Security
Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom
coalition, as well as among the personnel of Afghan and
international aid agencies and all other humanitarian
workers;
3. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient
security, welcomes the presence of the International
Security Assistance Force throughout Afghanistan, and
calls upon Member States to continue contributing
personnel, equipment and other resources to the Assistance
Force and to further develop the provincial reconstruction
teams in close coordination with the Government of
Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan;
4. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the UN
Assistance Mission as mandated by UN Security Council
resolution 1746, and stresses the continued importance
of the central and impartial role played by UNAMA in
promoting and coordinating a more coherent
international engagement, welcomes the extension of its
presence in additional provinces, which thus ensures that
the United Nations fulfils its essential coordinating
role, and encourages the Assistance Mission to consolidate its
presence and to continue its expansion throughout the
country, in particular in the south, security conditions
permitting;
5. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the
assistance of the international community, including
through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and
the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective
designated responsibilities, to continue to address the
threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed
by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups as
well as by criminal violence, in particular violence
involving the drug trade;
6. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local
authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safe
and unhindered access of United Nations, development
and humanitarian personnel to all affected populations;
7. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and
intimidation, regrets the loss of life and physical harm,
and urges the Government of Afghanistan and local
authorities to make every effort, in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 60/123 of 15 December
2005, to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks, to
ensure the safety, security and free movement of all
United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel
and to protect the property of the United Nations and of
development or humanitarian organizations;
8. Stresses the importance of advancing the full
implementation of the programme of disbandment of
illegal armed groups throughout the country under
Afghan ownership, while ensuring coordination and
coherence with other relevant efforts, including security
sector reform, community development, counter-
narcotics, district-level development and Afghan-led
initiatives to ensure entities and individuals do not
illegally participate in the political process, in
accordance with adopted laws and regulations in
Afghanistan; and calls for adequate support in order for
the Ministry of Interior to increasingly assume its
leading role in implementing the programme of disbandment
of illegal armed groups;
9. Welcomes the outcome of the Conference on
"Disbandment of illegal armed groups for the stabilization
of Afghanistan: Coordination with the Police Reform" in
Tokyo on 21 June, 2007;
10. Further welcomes, in this context, the commitment of
the Afghan Government to stand firm on the disbandment of
illegal armed groups, and to work actively at national,
provincial and local levels to advance this commitment;
11. Welcomes the development of the new professional
Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police,
calls for accelerated efforts to modernize and strengthen
both institutions and related Government departments
and welcomes in this regard the deployment of the EU
Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) in 2007;
12. Also welcomes the completion of the disarmament
and demobilization of child soldiers in the Afghan
Military Forces, stresses the importance of the reintegration
of child soldiers and of care for other children affected by
war, commends the Government of Afghanistan for its
efforts in this regard, and encourages it to continue
efforts in cooperation with the United Nations, including
with the Special Representative of the Secretary General
for Children and Armed Conflict and with other
international partners;
13. Expresses its concern about the ongoing recruitment
and use of child soldiers by illegal armed and terrorist
groups in Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of
implementing Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) on
children and armed conflict, and of ending the use of
children contrary to international law, welcomes efforts
by the Government of Afghan in this regard, also
welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two
optional protocols thereto as well as commitments made
by the Government of Afghanistan at the Conference
"Free Children from War" in Paris, 5-6 February 2007;
14. Welcomes the progress achieved through the "Mine
Action Programme for Afghanistan" and supports the
Government of Afghanistan to meet its responsibilities
under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction in line with the UN
Millennium Goals, to cooperate fully with the mine action
programme coordinated by the United Nations, and to
eliminate all known or new stocks of anti-personnel land
mines;
(Governance/ Rule of Law/ Human Rights)
15. Recognizes the challenges following secure and fair
elections and the establishment of democratic institutions
as identified in the Afghanistan Compact, and calls upon
the international community to continue to provide
sustained support;
16. Welcomes steps taken by the Afghan government on
justice sector reform, also welcomes the progress made
in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as
important steps towards the goal of strengthening the
Government of Afghanistan, providing security and
ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and
urges the international community to continue to support
the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in these
areas in a coordinated manner, welcoming in this regard
the outcome of the Rome Conference on the Rule of Law
in Afghanistan, 2-3 July, 2007;
17. Encourages the Afghan government to finalise the
National Justice Sector Strategy and National Justice
Program and calls on the international community to
ensure the requisite support for justice sector reform,
including honouring commitments made at the Rome
Conference;
18. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of
any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or
religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan
Constitution and international law;
19. Notes with concern the negative impact of the
security situation,in particular terrorist and violent
activities by Taliban, Al-Qaida and extremist groups on
the enjoyment of human rights, and calls for all parties
to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian
law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of
the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and
of the Assistance Mission, to fully implement the human
rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution, including
those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their
human rights and commends the commitment of the
Government of Afghanistan in this respect;
20. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to
freedom of expression and the right to freedom of
thought, conscience or belief, while noting with concern
recent attempts to limit freedom of expression and to
intimidate journalists;
21. Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating
allegations of current and past violations of human rights
and of international humanitarian law, including
violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and
religious minorities, as well as against women and girls,
of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective
remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators
to justice in accordance with international law;
22. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan
Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion
and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all
parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan
Constitution, calls for the full implementation by the
Government of Afghanistan of the Action Plan on Peace,
Justice and Reconciliation, without prejudice to the
implementation of measures introduced by Security Council
resolution 1267 and other relevant resolutions, and
stresses the importance of judicial accountability of
human rights offenders in accordance with national and
international law;
23. Recalls Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on
women and peace and security, commends the efforts of
the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender
issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of
women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its
ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, and by the
Afghan Constitution, and reiterates the continued
importance of the full and equal participation of women
in all spheres of Afghan life;
24. Welcomes the finalization of the National Action Plan
for Women in Afghanistan and the significant efforts by
the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination,
urges the Government to actively involve all elements of
Afghan society, in particular women, in the development
and implementation of relief, rehabilitation, recovery and
reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection
and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis
to provide information on gender-based violence and
accurately track the progress of the full integration of
women into the political, economic and social life of
Afghanistan;
25. Recognizes the significant progress achieved on
gender equality in Afghanistan in recent years, and
strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and
violence against women and girls, including women
activists, in Afghanistan, wherever they occur;
26. Welcomes the adoption by the Government of
Afghanistan of the National Plan of Action on Combating
Child Trafficking, also welcomes initiatives to pass
legislation on human trafficking guided by the Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children, supplementing the
United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime, and stresses the importance of
considering becoming a party to the Protocol;
End resolution text.
3. The resolution text and instructions continues in a
separate message.
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