AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE: SUGGESTIONS FOR CHAIR

UNCLAS STATE 024423 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AF PK UN SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE: SUGGESTIONS FOR CHAIR STATEMENT LANGUAGE ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (U) The key deliverable of the March 31 UN Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan is a Chairman's statement to be issued under UN SRSG for Afghanistan Kai Eide's name. In preparing the draft statement, SRSG Eide will consult key stakeholders including the Dutch, the U.S., the Afghans, and others at his discretion. ¶3. (U) Action request: Department requests that Ambassador deliver the following suggested draft language to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for proposed inclusion into the Chairman's statement: -- On March 31, 2009 the international community met to renew its support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its people in building an Afghanistan that is peaceful, secure, democratic, and free from the threat of violent extremists who seek to undermine stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. -- We reaffirm the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as the principal international assistance coordinator to ensure coherent and efficient assistance efforts. -- We commend the role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in assisting the Afghan Government to improve the security situation and welcome the ongoing contributions of all nations providing forces to ISAF. -- We welcome the Afghanistan and Pakistan Strategic Policy Review shared by the United States, which incorporates input from many ISAF partners and allies. (Elements of the review outcome will be shared as they become available). -- In the ongoing effort to promote good governance and more efficient, widespread economic development, we agree that effective and well-funded civilian assistance programs are as necessary as additional military forces and training programs. -- We pledge to ensure Afghanistan does not deteriorate into a safe haven for violent extremists who threaten the peace and security of both the region and the world. -- Recognizing the inextricable link between peace in Afghanistan and broader regional stability, we agree to approach problems shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan - violent extremism, narcotics trafficking, economic hardship, and weak governance - in a coordinated, strategically integrated manner. -- PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE: Long-term stability can best be assured through established good governance that is democratically elected, accountable to the people, transparent, and able to meet the needs of its citizens. In furtherance of this goal, we propose to: -- Support free, safe, and open national and provincial elections that are acceptable to the Afghan people by meeting our international commitments to assist the Afghan government in securing, financing, conducting, and monitoring the elections; -- Develop and strengthen Afghanistan's provincial councils and other local government institutions through technical assistance programs and civil service training; and -- Work with Afghan government institutions at both national and local levels to promote transparency and continue the fight against corruption. -- ACCELERATING DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: Sustainable economic growth and widespread development are critical to granting local populations a stake in security and prosperity. To promote and encourage these conditions, we will: -- Continue working within the assistance framework established by the Afghan National Development Strategy to prioritize and meet the development assistance needs of Afghanistan; and -- Boost commercial activity and private investment through strengthening regional trade and infrastructure linkages and build private-sector capacity through strategic and coordinated technical assistance programs. -- IMPROVING SECURITY: Capable and self-reliant national military and police forces remain fundamental to achieving a stable and secure Afghanistan. To reach this goal, we commit to: -- Develop increasingly self-reliant Afghan National Security Forces capable of providing for the safety and security of the Afghan people and leading the counterinsurgency effort; -- Build on our common counternarcotics efforts through increased training and assistance and by integrating counternarcotics programs into planning for enhanced governance, development, and security; and -- Strengthen Afghanistan's borders by working with Afghan National Security Forces, ISAF, and regional partners. -- ADDRESSING REGIONAL CHALLENGES: Efforts to bring peace and security to Afghanistan depend not only on internal factors, but on a peaceful and secure Pakistan. Taking into account the broader regional challenges that pose a threat to stability region across the region, we will: -- Develop a comprehensive and integrated security strategy for the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region in conjunction with those two countries, NATO/ISAF, and other stakeholders; -- Work with governments across the region to strengthen cooperation on law enforcement, counternarcotics, and customs and to improve the security and integrity of national borders; and -- Coordinate regional assistance projects and promote trade and transit to address needs and benefit populations on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and across the region. -- The Pakistan Donors Conference and Friends of Democratic Pakistan Ministerial in Tokyo on April 17 are key opportunities to demonstrate strong support for Pakistan, whose partnership is critical to achieving our goals in Afghanistan. CLINTON