INSTRUCTIONS (PART ONE) FOR THE RESOLUTION ON

UNCLAS STATE 152302 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A 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. RICE