Text of Dr Spanta speech at the Afghanistan-OSCE Conference in Kabul

Date: Nov 08, 2008
Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Hosting the 2008 OSCE-Afghanistan Conference in Kabul is a great honor for us. On behalf of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I would like to welcome you all to this significant and important event. Let me also convey the best wishes of President Karzai for a successful conference. This conference is a clear example of the mutual cooperation between our countries. Our gathering here today evidences our commitment to implement the principles, values, and goals of the OSCE. Individually and collectively, the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation have the potential to contribute to securing the environment within the OSCE area and beyond. This potential can only be realized, though, if cooperation between the OSCE and its Asian Partners strengthens. None among us today is stranger to the hardships endured by Afghanistan over the past three decades. Afghanistan has paid a great price in its struggle against foreign occupation, terrorism, and imposed conflicts. Seven years ago, this city, and the rest of the country was besieged by an oppressive and surrogate Taliban regime. Afghanistan was a safe haven for terrorists and territory without state institutions. However, with the sacrifices of our people, and the support of our international partners, many of whom are present here today, we have opened a new chapter in our modern history. Today, we continue to march slowly, but tenaciously in our journey towards a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. During recent years, Afghanistan has taken great strides in that path. We have transitioned to electoral democracy. We now have a modern and progressive constitution. Thousands of schools have been built across the country, where children are investing in their future. Afghans today enjoy more political, social and economic rights that any time in the country’s history. Afghan women have regained their status as an active member of society, demonstrating their competence and commitment to democracy. The significant number of women in our National Assembly is one example. Just this month, President Karzai gathered hundreds of women from across Afghanistan to engage openly and honestly in a discussion on security and human rights. We will continue to work diligently to achieve our human rights objectives by increasing capacity to report on our human rights treaty obligations by the end of 2010. Our liberal media policy has enabled the presence of 20 independent and privately owned TV stations across the country. This is in addition to the more than40 Radio stations and around 400 periodicals published without governmental influence. Despite the incredible progress Afghanistan has made, we acknowledge the many challenges that lie ahead. To address those challenges, we have embarked on a comprehensive strategy which focuses on three key pillars: security, social and economic development and good governance. Our efforts will be conducted within the framework of the Afghanistan Compact and our national development strategy. Terrorism continues to be our number one challenge. Over recent months, we have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of terrorist attacks. While Afghanistan has borne the brunt of terrorist violence, the scourge has now spread across the wider region like a wild-fire. Until recently, extremist circles in the region remained mainly focused on destabilizing Afghanistan. However, now terrorist violence is also directed within the territory of Pakistan. Let us be clear in stating that terrorism will not go away until we deal with this manes as an international serious challenge with regional bases and sources. To achieve success in the fight against terrorism, we must eliminate secure sanctuaries which train, harbor and equip terrorists. Afghanistan attaches great importance to its relations with the brotherly government of Pakistan. We remain committed to enhanced cooperation to address our common threat and utilize the enormous potential in the region for becoming the anchor of peace, moderation and prosperity for the entire region. Enhanced collaboration and cooperation will be utmost importance to eliminate the scourge of extremism, militancy and terrorism. Ladies and Gentlemen, As a measure to assume a greater responsibility in addressing our security challenges, we have prioritized Afghani-zation of the security sector among our top priorities. Investing in Afghanistan’s security sector is a long-term and sustainable solution to maintaining democracy and confronting terrorism. To enable us to succeed as an independent and secure nation, we urge our international partners to redouble efforts to increase the operational capacity of our security forces by accelerating the training and equipping of the Afghan national army and police. Narcotics remain a key threat not only to Afghanistan’s national security, but also the regional and global stability. The magnitude of the narcotics challenge requires a comprehensive strategy, one which should include enhanced regional and global efforts. The challenge of addressing the narcotics threat is compounded by activities of elaborate and well-organized trafficking groups who seek to reap benefits from the drug-trade. Accordingly, a successful fight against this scourge will require increased efforts to reduce demand and consumption. It is worth mentioning: trafficking of narcotics goes two ways: Drugs are transported from Afghanistan to consumers abroad, but the precursors are entered to Afghanistan from abroad. Consequently, regional and international cooperation on the basis of shared responsibility is essential and critical. In our part, we will continue to work towards the implementation of our National Drug Control Strategy. Our efforts have thus far resulted in increasing the number of poppy free provinces from 13-18. We will strive to consolidate those gains. Our counter-narcotics efforts are inextricably linked to our anti-corruption efforts. Afghanistan will spare no effort to address corruption wherever and whenever it occurs. In that spirit, the establishment of the Independent Anti-Corruption Administration is among the most recent of our efforts to address corruption and improve good-governance at the national level. Dear Colleagues, Afghanistan cherishes its partnership with the OSCE, and appreciates the Madrid Ministerial Council decision on OSCE engagement with Afghanistan. We applaud the OSCE secretariat initiatives that strengthen border security and management, foster cross border co-operation between the Central Asian participating States and Afghanistan, and enhance national law enforcement capacities in accordance with the MC decision. In addition, as you all witnessed in 2004 and 2005, the elections encouraged the participation of all Afghans in the democratic process after four long decades. As the calendar nears the 2009 Presidential election in Afghanistan, we welcome and invite the observation of ODHIR in our general election to contribute in the legitimacy of the election outcome. Finally, let me say that we are grateful to the Finnish Chairmanship of the OSCE, the Spanish Chairmanship of the Asian Contact Group, as well as the Secretary General for their tireless efforts and dedication to Afghanistan. Without you, this conference in Kabul would not have materialized. I am fully confident that the 2008 OSCE- Afghanistan Conference and the discourse among participants will be critical in further strengthening co-operation between the OSCE and its Asian Partners. Once again, I am honored to be here, and encourage you to engage fully and openly in this agenda. On behalf of my country, I thank you for being here, and I wish you all a successful conference!I thank you!