AFGHAN PRIDE IN FOOTBALL VICTORY SHOWS WAY FORWARD TOWARD NORMALCY – UN ENVOY

From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 19 Sep 2013 13:00:00 -0400
Subject: AFGHAN PRIDE IN FOOTBALL VICTORY SHOWS WAY FORWARD TOWARD
NORMALCY – UN ENVOY
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

AFGHAN PRIDE IN FOOTBALL VICTORY SHOWS WAY FORWARD TOWARD NORMALCY –
UN ENVOYNew York, Sep 19 2013 1:00PMCiting Afghans' "exuberant"
display of national unity and pride at the war-wracked country's
victory in a regional football championship as a "welcome sign" on the
gradual path to normalcy, the top United Nations envoy there today
also pointed to other recent political and security gains despite
major challenges.

"There is clear progress in vital elements underpinning Afghanistan's
transition processes," the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special
Representative Ján Kubiš told the Security Council in a quarterly
<"http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12254&ctl=Details&mid=15756&ItemID=37286&language=en-US">briefing
on the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) set up
in 2002 to help the country on the road to peace and development
following decades of war and factional fighting.

"At the same time, challenges persist in the security and narcotics
sectors in particular," he said, presenting Mr. Ban's latest report on
the country. "Considerable challenges remain and the situation is
volatile, but efforts are on track."

Mr. Kubiš, who heads UNAMA, called Afghanistan's 2-0 victory over
India in the South Asian Football Federation Championship earlier this
month "an historic achievement."

"In a display of national unity and national pride the streets filled
with dancing, flag-waving crowds," he said. "Following decades of war
which devastated the country's institutional and social fabric, the
South Asian Football Federation Championship win was a welcome sign of
Afghanistan's gradual return to normalcy and success on the
international stage."

Turning to the challenges ahead, he said Afghan security forces
capabilities are not yet fully developed nor completely sustainable,
even though the army and police have shown "courage and increased
capability in rising to the challenge of security transition."

He cited estimates by the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF), due to leave at the end of next year, that international
support will be required for at least the next five years in enabling
entirely independent operations.

Security incidents have increased over the past year, although not to
the record levels of 2011, with a campaign of bloodshed by
anti-Government elements targeting Afghans – both in uniform and
civilians – including in previously calmer districts. They have
however failed to achieve a significant military victory, Mr. Kubiš
said.

Turning to the political front, he stressed that a stable leadership
transition through next year's elections is paramount, with candidates
articulating clear visions and avoiding appeals to narrow ethnic or
factional interests on a level playing field that includes equal
access to State resources, as well as balanced media coverage.

UNAMA is charged with supporting the elections, slated for 5 April,
2014, to choose a new leader to replace President Hamid Karzai, who
will not be seeking re-election due to term limits.

The election will mark a transfer of power from one elected Government
to another for the first time in Afghanistan's history, and elections
for the National Assembly will be held in 2015.

On narcotics, "a key problem in Afghanistan and beyond," Mr. Kubiš
noted that though there was a reduction in cannabis cultivation in
2012, higher yields still saw increased production.

"I am extremely concerned at assessments that this year will see a
significant rise – yet again – in opium cultivation and a continuing
drop in 'poppy-free' provinces," he added, calling for
counter-narcotics to be mainstreamed into agricultural policy by
providing farmers with access to markets for other crops. Afghanistan
is already by far the largest centre of opium in the world.

Mr. Kubiš stressed that increasing humanitarian needs due to increased
population displacements sparked by heightened uncertainty and
violence will require more stable and flexible funding that will allow
a rapid response to humanitarian crises. There are now half a million
internally displaced persons (IDPs), over 100,000 of them driven from
their homes in the first seven months of the year.

In his <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2013/535">report,
in which he expressed concern over the deteriorating security
situation, Secretary-General Ban urged "early confidence-building"
before commencing formal peace talks between the Government and its
fundamentalist Taliban and other opponents.

"Any talks should be inclusive and should be accompanied by early
confidence-building steps aimed at reducing levels of violence,
notably around the elections and the increased safety and security of
Afghan civilians who have suffered the effects of the conflict for too
long," he wrote.

"The United Nations supports an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned
peace process and I would encourage all efforts that ensure it starts
soon."Sep 19 2013 1:00PM
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