Simon Coveney
Question:48 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Afghanistan. [26490/02]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:169 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26792/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 169 together.
The Government has welcomed the remarkable progress already achieved in Afghanistan in the past 12 months since the signing of the Bonn Agreement. We remain committed, at all levels, to the full implementation of the Bonn Agreement and the construction of a peaceful, democratic society in Afghanistan. This commitment was re-emphasised by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, at the conference held at Petersberg on 2 December to celebrate the first anniversary of the signing of the agreement. Deputy Kitt made it clear that our commitment to Afghanistan was for the long-term, and that we would continue to play our role in the steps being taken to promote its lasting social and economic development. However, notwithstanding the progress achieved, the Government also recognises the enormous challenges remaining in all sectors – political, economic, humanitarian and reconstruction.
At EU level, the special representative to Afghanistan, Mr. Francesc Vendrell, who is based in Kabul and has great experience of the region, is working closely with the Afghan authorities to implement the EU's policy in Afghanistan, in co-ordination with UN special representative Brahimi, and regional neighbours.
An EU troika visited the region from 11 to 12 November. Its focus was to seek information about the status of the Bonn Agreement and the future requirements of Afghanistan for assistance. This mission provided an important opportunity to assess fully the progress made since the adoption of the Council conclusions and to discuss a roadmap for future co-operation between the EU and the Afghanistan Transitional Authority, ATA. The results of this troika will further inform our approach during the coming months.
At UN level in October, the UN Secretary General, in his third report on Afghanistan, reported on the Administration's elaboration of a national development framework and budget. He also provided an update on the various commissions mandated by the Bonn Agreement – the Civil Service, constitutional, human rights, and judicial commissions – as well as other initiatives created by President Hamid Karzai. The Secretary General further set out the efforts by the international community to provide humanitarian assistance and to support the Afghan Government in reconstruction activities. He reported his concerns in relation to the security climate, in particular the growing number of acts of terrorism and political violence.
As a member of the Security Council, Ireland continues to underline the crucial importance of a humanitarian strategy to parallel the political one. In early November, Ireland chaired an informal meeting of Security Council members to discuss human rights and other issues. Participants at the meeting agreed that a holistic, strategic approach encompassing reconstruction, security and economic development should be supported. At a further informal meeting of Security Council members on 11 December with the Director of the International Crisis Group, issues discussed included security tensions, the decision to form an Afghan national army, the disbursement of aid, security issues in the provinces, and the need for progress in the processes for constitutional, judicial and human rights.
Ireland continues to provide bilateral assistance through Irish non-governmental organisations and international agencies. At the international conference on reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan, which took place in Tokyo in January 2002, the Government pledged €12 million in reconstruction support over a three year period. A sum of €5.3 million of that reconstruction pledge has been delivered to date. This figure includes €250,000 provided to the UNDP law and order trust fund in support of civil police capacity building in Afghanistan. An additional €3.3 million was delivered in emergency humanitarian assistance. In total, since 11 September 2001, Ireland has delivered €11.9 million in financial assistance to Afghanistan.
The EU is committed to delivering a major contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Commission and individual member states made substantial contributions at the Tokyo conference, totalling €594 million for 2002 alone. As part of its financial contributions to the rehabilitation of Afghanistan, the EU has provided support amounting to $67 million to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund in 2002. A further $49.5 million was allocated to the Afghan Interim Authority Fund. Further contributions are under consideration.