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Afghanistan's stability hinges on international security assistance - UN official

Afghanistan's stability hinges on international security assistance - UN official

SRSG Jean Arnault briefs the Council
Afghanistan needs international support to emerge from decades of war, tackle resurgent militias sabotaging peace efforts, and hold credible elections in September, a senior United Nations official said today.

Afghanistan needs international support to emerge from decades of war, tackle resurgent militias sabotaging peace efforts, and hold credible elections in September, a senior United Nations official said today.

"The persistent woes of Afghanistan - terrorism, factionalism and criminal networks - are as much at work today as they were two years ago, and their ability to subvert State-building and a genuine political process is hardly diminished," Jean Arnault, head of the UN mission in the country (UNAMA), told the Security Council. "Whether it is in counter-terrorism, electoral security, counter-narcotics or control of factional fighting, at this critical juncture for the Afghan peace process, international security assistance continues to make the difference between success and failure."

Mr. Arnault stated that training, funding and other general forms of help, while important, were not sufficient for Afghanistan. "Widespread, robust international military presence in support of domestic security forces remains critical," he said.

While the security "map" had followed a well-known pattern with little change in the provinces, the situation had worsened in the more risky areas, particularly in the south, with a tangible increase in the number of incidents and their toll. The level of violent opposition to the electoral process was still difficult to gauge, but precautions were being taken as registration pushed into rural areas, he said.

Although Afghanistan lacks a strong electoral tradition, the general population has been mobilized. Since the beginning of May, nearly 1 million people have signed up, bringing to 2.7 million the total number of registered voters. Contrary to initial expectations, women's participation did not drop as voter registration expanded beyond the urban centres. "There is momentum," Mr. Arnault said. "There are expectations."

At the same time, he warned that the polling must be viewed as fair. "A process perceived to be biased and distorted could deeply undermine the hopes… that differences among Afghans can be settled through peaceful political means." The Afghan leadership as well as the international community must ensure the legitimacy of the process, he said.

"Security, in general, and for the electoral process, in particular, is ultimately an Afghan responsibility, but it is a responsibility that Afghans cannot shoulder without international assistance," Mr. Arnault stressed, calling on NATO countries to honour past commitments to the Afghan people.

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Video of Council meeting [29mins]