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21 November 2001

UN Convening Talks on Broad-based Afghan Government

The Coalition spokesman in Islamabad, Kenton Keith, said the United Nations had made progress on convening talks to promote a broad-based, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan, and that the talks would most likely take place in Berlin early next week. Keith spoke in Islamabad on November 21.

Keith said that after two decades of war, Afghanistan is on the verge of peace, and that reconstruction of the country would require massive international assistance. Outlining the three key areas for work, Keith said, "Initially, we must provide basic humanitarian aid for at least two years, until Afghans can provide these basic needs for themselves."

"Then there must be reintegration and community development," he said, including ensuring access to education.

"Lastly, we need to help the Afghan people reconstruct their nation. The Afghan people need to be able to build government structures, health care and education networks. We need to help them rebuild industries to provide a national income and employment," Keith said.

The U.S. and Japan co-hosted a meeting on Afghan reconstruction in Washington on November 20 to set in motion the effort to help the Afghan people rebuild their country. Keith said the action plan that resulted from this meeting is a clear commitment from the international community "that we will not forget the people of Afghanistan."

Following is the text of Keith's remarks in Islamabad:

Statement by Kenton Keith, Coalition Spokesman, Islamabad

Berlin

I would like to open by welcoming the progress that has been made by the United Nations in convening talks to further the effort to promote a broad-based, multi-ethnic government. It now seems likely that they will take place in Berlin early next week. I would like to pay tribute to Special Representative Brahimi and his deputy Francesc Vendrell who have been working tirelessly to help to bring about a stable, broad-based, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan.

Reconstruction Meeting

I want to talk to today about the need for reconstruction in Afghanistan. After twenty-two years Afghanistan is on the verge of peace. But I think it is commonly understood that after those twenty-two years of conflict, the total destruction of infrastructure and the utter economic incompetence of the Taliban regime, it is in need of massive assistance to enable its reconstruction.

We need to help Afghans create the basis for a stable society - civil discipline, the rule of law, the basic institutions of a civilized society. Schools and hospitals need to be built and rebuilt. So that the elements of decent living can be established in Afghanistan and established quickly after decades of neglect. As Special Representative Brahimi told the UN Security Council last week, reconstruction is key to bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan and is at the heart of the political transition.

Yesterday's Washington meeting on Afghan reconstruction co-hosted by the United States and Japan was a crucial start to this long process. The conference was convened at very short notice to set in motion the effort to help the Afghan people rebuild their country to enable them to live in stability and security in the future. The conference was attended by many countries and international organizations who all have an important role to play in the future of Afghanistan and its people.

At this early stage the conference identified three key areas for work over the coming weeks, months and years. Initially we must provide basic humanitarian aid, in the form of food, shelter, clothing and health care. Years of drought, crop failure and economic mismanagement mean that we expect it to take at least two years to before we are in a position to say that all Afghan people will be in a position to provide these basic needs for themselves.

Then there must be reintegration and community development. The many refugees and displaced people must feel secure returning to their homes. We also must ensure that the Afghan people begin to have access to education, particularly the women and girls who have missed out under the Taliban.

Lastly we need to help the Afghan people to reconstruct their nation. The Afghan people need to be able to build Government structures, health care and education networks. We need to help them to rebuild industries to provide a national income and employment.

Despite the short notice at which the meeting was called we have already covered many of these topics in rich, constructive debate. Those present have agreed an action plan that underscores the importance of the UN at the center of the regeneration of Afghanistan, now and in the future.

The conference agreed a steering group to be chaired by the US, Japan, the EU and Saudi Arabia. This will give the process continued momentum and the EU has already agreed to organize a meeting next month to continue to deepen and broaden this work.

Japan has agreed to host a Ministerial Level meeting in January, with the aim of getting commitments from the international community to the task of reconstructing Afghanistan. And next week many of the international NGOs are meeting here in Islamabad and will begin to look at the technical detail of what needs to be done.

We are still in the early stages of this process, but it is a clear commitment from the international community that we will not forget the people of Afghanistan. The Coalition is determined to ensure a more stable and secure future for people who have endured a generation of suffering.