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Let me begin by congratulating the government and people of Afghanistan on the important steps that have been taken in recent years including elections for the presidency and national assembly, and the inauguration of vital democratic institutions. These are rightly heralded as major achievements in Afghanistan’s path to stable democracy since the signing of the Bonn Agreement. We acknowledge in particular the work of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission recognised at Bonn as an institution critical to the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Afghan people.
Security and economic development, evidenced by an improvement in the quality of daily life for Afghan people, is the key to securing the legitimacy and authority of the Afghan government and the basis for long-term peace and stability. There is encouraging evidence of gains leading to a revival of economic activity, in particular in those parts of Afghanistan which have seen improvements in stability and governance. In this context New Zealand acknowledges the value of local mechanisms in achieving regional solutions and the investment of effort and commitment by Afghan people, often under difficult and trying circumstances, in making these initiatives work.
But the deterioration of the overall security environment, which impinges on the delivery of aid and economic growth, is of real concern. The upsurge in violence coupled with a major resurgence of Taliban military and terrorist activity, particularly in southern Afghanistan, is at an unprecedented level. New Zealand, as a contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, commends the Government of Afghanistan and major ISAF contributors for their efforts towards achieving stability and security throughout Afghanistan and adds its voice to calls on the Government of Afghanistan and international partners to remain committed to developing the capabilities of the Afghan police and military
The unprecedented increase in opium production and illegal trafficking, which have negative flow-on effects for stabilisation initiatives, governance and rooting-out corruption, is of further concern and it is vital that efforts to address the problem, including through the development of alternative rural livelihoods, and justice sector reform, are redoubled.
New Zealand will continue to support the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan in assisting with the restoration of peace and security and maintain its commitments to reconstruction initiatives in Bamyan. We call on international donors to ensure that their contributions are closely coordinated with those of other donors and in accordance with the Interim Afghan National Development Strategy and the Afghanistan Compact.
We recognise that the road to success for Afghanistan is a long one, and alongside others here today, reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to continuing to work with the Afghan people to create a safe, secure and more prosperous country.
