Military

DATE=7/11/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-291951

TITLE=U-N / AFGHANISTAN (L-O)

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N and Afghan officials have told representatives of 15 donor nations that Afghanistan's stability could worsen if the international community fails to support reconstruction work in the country. Lisa Schlein has more on the meeting.

TEXT: The appeal to donors follows the assassination of one of Afghanistan's vice-presidents, Haji Abdul Qadir by less than a week. In his remarks in Geneva, Afghanistan's finance minister said there would probably be more assassinations, because the situation was so unstable.

The minister, Ashraf Ghani, told the representatives of the donor countries that in order for Afghanistan to become a stable, democratic country its people would first need to have confidence their lives and property will be protected.

/// GHANI ACT ///

This translates into a demand for creation of the national army and the national police as institutions. There is also universal, near universal consensus in Afghanistan on the extension and expansion of the International Peacekeeping Force. But, that, of course, is not up to us. It is up to the international community.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Ghani's message about the importance of protecting Afghans received quick support from the special U-N Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi. He said the United Nations favors the presence of international peacekeepers throughout Afghanistan.

/// BRAHIMI ACT ///

I think that the secretary-general of the United Nations has consistently pleaded for an extension or an expansion of the International Security Force. From what we see on the ground, we think that this will not require masses of soldiers. It will not cost a lot of money and it will not be dangerous.

/// END ACT ///

A U-N document prepared for the meeting says Afghans need many things in addition to security. It notes almost one-third of the population is dependent on some form of emergency assistance.

U-N officials say they need almost 400-million dollars during the next few months to carry out urgently needed humanitarian and rehabilitation projects in Afghanistan. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/KL/RAE