VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #2704 1892320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 072325Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 072704
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM UNSC AF
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR JULY 9 SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
AFGHANISTAN
1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN is instructed to draw from the
points in para 2 below to respond to the report on the UN
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which will be
presented to the UN Security Council by Special
Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Kai Eide on
Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Para 3 contains "if asked/if
raised" talking points on civilian casualties. End Action
Request.
2. Begin points:
I would like to thank SRSG Kai Eide for his briefing this
afternoon. And on behalf of the United States, I would like
to thank him and the staff of UNAMA for their hard work and
dedication to improving the lives of the Afghan people and
helping Afghanistan succeed. At the recent Paris Conference,
the Final Declaration of the three co-chairs -- the SYG, the
President of France, and the President of Afghanistan --
affirmed strong support for the expanded role of the SRSG and
UNAMA to lead coordination of international efforts, as well
as coordination between the Afghan Government and the
international community.
Today, I would like to make five points:
-- First, we need to present a common front against
extremists, as well as against corruption and narcotics
trafficking. We are deeply troubled by the increasing
violence in Afghanistan. As the Secretary General,s report
indicated, May 2008 recorded the highest number of security
incidents in the country since the overthrow of the Taliban
in 2001. These attacks are becoming increasingly complex and
coordinated. Insurgent and terrorists have grown more
effective and more aggressive, most recently in the cowardly
and despicable attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul. The
international community must support not only increased
security efforts, but also a broad interagency approach that
includes infrastructure improvement, foreign investment, and
economic incentives. Progress in all these areas is critical
to the legitimacy of the Afghan Government and ultimately to
our stabilization operations.
-- Second, the implementation and success of the Afghanistan
National Development Strategy (ANDS), which connects the
government to every level of the Afghan people, will require
a strengthened partnership between Afghanistan and the
international community, with the SRSG and UNAMA playing a
crucial role. The launch of this National Development
Strategy at Paris means that some eighty international
stakeholders are now engaged in an Afghan-led coordinated
effort to implement a roadmap for activities in three broad
areas: security; governance, rule of law, and human rights;
and economic and social development.
-- Third, we fully agree with the SRSG's conclusion that
elections are a key priority and an important measure of
Afghanistan's democratic progress. The Afghan Independent
Election Commission is the lead coordinating body for the
August 2009 Presidential and Provincial Council elections and
the summer 2010 parliamentary elections. We strongly urge
SRSG Eide to work closely with President Karzai and UNDP to
relieve pressing issues of voter registration and passage of
a new election law.
-- Fourth, UNAMA will play an essential role in ensuring that
the commitments made at the Paris Conference are met. The
countries that met at Paris committed themselves not only to
provide greater resources to the reconstruction of
Afghanistan, but to make provision of these resources more
transparent, accountable, and effective. We welcome the fact
that they all committed to more local procurement and
capacity-building and to ensuring that the benefits of
development can reach all provinces equitably. For UNAMA to
play this role, it will require greater resources so that
SRSG Eide will have the tools to do his job, aid can actually
reach the Afghan people, and the donor countries can get the
greatest value added for their contributions. We concur
with the Secretary General,s recommendation that UNAMA
expand its presence throughout Afghanistan with the opening
of six new provincial offices in the next 12 months. We
strongly support SRSG Eide,s drive to increase the capacity
and effectiveness of UNAMA in a number of key areas through
staffing increases and possible structural changes, consist
with an integrated approach that ensures all UN and
international efforts are properly coordinated.
-- Fifth, Afghanistan's neighbors have an important role to
play in supporting the Afghan government's efforts to secure
its borders. UNSC resolution 1806 highlights UNAMA,s role
in supporting regional cooperation and the SRSG has been
active in this area.
-- Today marks a time to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to
the people of Afghanistan. The United States will continue
to work closely with our partners on these issues until the
Afghan people can live in stability, prosperity, and
democracy.
3. (If asked/if raised) Civilian Casualties:
-- Coalition forces killed more than a dozen militants
following an attack on a combat outpost in Nuristan Province
yesterday evening. Ground forces at the combat outpost
observed militants firing at friendly positions. Ground
forces defended themselves with small arms fire. The
insurgents then entered two vehicles and began traveling away
from the firing position. Ground forces called in coalition
helicopters in support.
-- The helicopter crews coordinated with ground forces to
positively identify the militants' vehicles. The helicopters
then destroyed the two vehicles, killing more than a dozen
militants. The attack helicopter engaged no other targets.
-- There are no official reports of non-combatant injuries or
casualties. We are aware through media reports that there
are allegations of civilian casualties. we are engaging with
Afghan officials on this matter.
RICE