Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Tom Hayes

Question:

96 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in implementing the provisions of the Bonn Agreement on Afghanistan; if Ireland will pledge further assistance to Afghanistan once the moneys pledged over a three year period, and almost used in their entirety, are exhausted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30423/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

On 13 November 2003, I made a statement to the House concerning Afghanistan. Since then, the progress towards re-establishing a democratic civil government in Afghanistan has continued. Under the provisions of the Bonn Agreement, the Afghanistan transitional authority, ATA, established in June 2002, is to be replaced by an elected government following elections scheduled to take place in June 2004. An electoral commission has been established and the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, has started to organise the electoral process. Voter registration, under UNAMA auspices, began on 1 December in a number of provinces. A draft constitution was published by the ATA on 3 November. The draft establishes the centrality of Islam, observes the United Nations Charter, and respects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also provides for an office of president and a national assembly. The draft constitution will be debated, possibly amended, and ultimately approved by the Loya Jirga tribal council, which convened on 10 December, and is expected to continue for some weeks.

On 14 October, the United Nations Security Council agreed unanimously to authorise the extension of the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, to 20 December 2004. The Security Council also authorised the expansion of ISAF's mandate to allow it to support the ATA and its successors in the maintenance of security in areas of Afghanistan outside Kabul and its environs. Progress has also been made on the creation of a national police force and reform of the national army. The first battalions of the army have begun military operations alongside coalition forces. The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process began on 24 October in the northern province of Kunduz.

Despite this progress, a number of serious problems continue to confront Afghanistan. The adverse security circumstances are caused by the resurgent Taliban, predominantly in the south and east, and by armed factions associated with regional warlords. On the political front, the ATA's writ largely does not run beyond Kabul, and there has been little progress in forcing regional governors to submit tax revenue to the central government. The economy is still in dire straits. It is primarily based on agriculture, and poppy cultivation is a large and growing industry. Socially and culturally, tribal divisions run deep, with many of the majority Pashtuns becoming increasingly disenchanted with their lack of representation in the ATA.

Ireland has strongly supported humanitarian operations and the recovery process in Afghanistan. At the Tokyo conference on Afghanistan in January 2002, Ireland pledged €12 million over three years for reconstruction activities. To date €9.4 million or 78% of this pledge has been delivered. In the same period Ireland has also provided €2.8 million to meet humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable. Separate funding amounting to €1.25 million has been allocated to key partner NGOs under the Government's multi-annual programme scheme, MAPS. Through its prioritisation of reconstruction and recovery programmes, Ireland is making every effort to ensure coherence between its contributions and the policies and strategies of the ATA within the context of best development practice.

It is expected that Ireland will have fully disbursed its Tokyo pledge to Afghanistan in early to mid 2004. At that point, I expect that we will deliver additional assistance to support the recovery process in Afghanistan, subject to continuing progress in governance, and with a particular focus on poverty reduction.