Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA237
2008-03-12 02:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR UNSYG SPECIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO2189 OO RUEHIK RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBY #0237 0720258 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 120258Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9157 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0781 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 0051 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0599 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 5057 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 3340 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 3246
UNCLAS CANBERRA 000237
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OFDP AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR UNSYG SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 25020
UNCLAS CANBERRA 000237
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OFDP AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR UNSYG SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 25020
¶1. Coincident with the receipt of the demarche request
contained in reftel, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith issued a
media statement on March 12 welcoming the appointment of
Ambassador Kai Eide as the UNSYG's Special Representative for
Afghanistan, calling it an important step forward in
strengthening UN engagement in Afghanistan. In his
statement, FM Smith said the appointment was especially
important in southern Afghanistan, and said Australia looked
forward to working closely with Ambassador Eide to strengthen
the role of UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on the
ground, including in Oruzgan Province.
¶2. Full text of FM Smith's follows:
Begin text:
Media Release
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon Stephen Smith, MP
12 March 2008
APPOINTMENT OF UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN
The Australian Government welcomes the appointment of
Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway as the UN Secretary-General's
Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The position heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA),which provides political support and the
coordination of UN-led relief, recovery and reconstruction
efforts, and is effectively the multilateral face and voice
of the international community to the Afghan Government and
people.
The Secretary-General's decision to appoint Ambassador Eide
is an important step forward.
Strengthening UN engagement in Afghanistan is crucial to
progress on stablisation and to establishing the longer term
conditions needed to sustain peace and security.
The Secretary-General's Special Representative has a key role
in leading and directing that engagement, and also in
ensuring that international humanitarian and development
activities are more effectively coordinated and extended
throughout the country.
This is particularly important in southern Afghanistan, and
we look forward to working closely with Ambassador Eide to
strengthen the role of UNAMA on the ground, including in
Oruzgan Province.
Ambassador Eide brings solid experience to the position,
having served in a number of senior UN nation-building roles
in the Balkans, including as the Secretary-General's Special
Envoy to Kosovo in 2004-05.
End text.
MCCALLUM