Adoption of Official Statement by President of UN Security Council on Afghanistan

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

An open meeting of the United Nations Security Council on developments in the situation within Afghanistan took place in New York on August 23. At its end an official statement by the President of the Council was adopted setting forth the priorities of the international community in the cause of achieving a lasting settlement in the country.

The statement, which the representatives of Russia took an active part in elaborating, welcomes the progress made by Afghan authorities in preparing the elections for parliament (Wolesi Jirga) and provincial councils scheduled for September 18, including that in respect of their safe conduct, and voices a call on the international community to provide additional financial support to the electoral process.

At the same time concern is expressed over the deteriorating security in Afghanistan. It is stressed that the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist forces bear the responsibility for that. In this connection the Council's support is accentuated for efforts by the Afghan government with the participation of the International Security Assistance Force and coalition forces to enhance stability in the republic.

The importance of developing cooperation between the governments of Afghanistan and neighbor states to achieve a long-term peace and stability is especially noted.

Members of the Security Council affirmed the UN's key role as the center for coordinating international efforts to assist the post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Council declared its readiness in close contact with the Afghan government and interested parties to review the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan after the completion of the election campaign. The Russian delegation on behalf of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the course of the Council meeting affirmed the priority of assuring reliable security in Afghanistan, with the UN playing the central role, and noted the necessity for all states to maintain a united constructive line on the peace process going on in the country.

The statement expresses concern about the considerable rise in terrorist activity by the Taliban and other extremists over the last few months to disrupt elections in the republic. Persistent attempts by members of the Taliban and Al-Qaida to implant themselves in power structures or become members of parliament are a cause of considerable anxiety.

The Council suggested working out a strategy to combat the threat of drugs emanating from that country by reinforcing and creating new antidrug "security belts," which the CSTO member states have consistently been supportive of.

Russia will continue to make an energetic contribution to safeguarding durable security in Afghanistan and in the region as a whole.

We feel that the official statement adopted in the UN Security Council is an important document exactly reflecting the assessments of the situation in the country and its development tasks.

August 24, 2005