Michael Ring
Ceist:133 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on progress made to date in bringing about a stable and democratic Afghanistan. [6541/03]
Vol. 562 No. 5
133 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on progress made to date in bringing about a stable and democratic Afghanistan. [6541/03]
On 17 December 2002, I made a statement to the House concerning the situation in Afghanistan. Since then, the progress towards a stable and democratic society in Afghanistan has continued. This process commenced with the signing of the Bonn Agreement in December 2001. Working together, the Afghanistan Transitional Authority and the international community are working steadily towards the reconstruction of the social, economic and governmental infrastructure of Afghanistan. Since 17 December, the important process of drafting a new constitution for Afghanistan has advanced. President Karzai is currently preparing a decree detailing the main elements of the new constitutional process, and a constitutional commission is to be established by March 2003. Thereafter, public consultations on the new constitution are scheduled to take place between April and June this year. There has also been important progress on the preparation for the elections due to take place in June 2004. The UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, has already started organising the electoral process and co-ordinating the international assistance which has been offered.
A very welcome development on the ground in Afghanistan was the heavy fall of rain and snow last week. There is widespread hope there that this may mark the end of the severe drought, which the people have endured for the past six years. The impact of the end of the drought cannot be underestimated, as it would have a huge effect on the agricultural and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, which has been particularly devastating for the rural population. Other key developments currently under way include the reform of the national army and the creation of a national police force. On a positive note, on 10 February 2003, the leadership of the international security assistance force, ISAF, with which Irish troops continue to serve in Kabul, was transferred smoothly from Turkey to Germany and the Netherlands. In view of this progress, it is unfortunate that the human rights and security situations in Afghanistan continue to raise concern. The Afghanistan poppy eradication programme has also met with opposition in the east of the country and there have been reports of attacks on the offices of some international organisations.