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 1 December 2009
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UN envoy calls for long-term int'l commitment to Afghanistan

01/12/2009

Afghanistan will need long-term commitment from the international community, the head of the UN Mission in the country told reporters on Tuesday.

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, noted that the Afghan government and the international community are building a "post-election strategy" for the country:

Afghan receiving winter assistance

Afghan receiving winter assistance

"My hope-and I think this is a hope that is shared by everybody in the government and in the international community-is that these few months can give us a momentum that has been lost during the election process and is badly needed. It's quite clear the international community has to reassert a long-term commitment to Afghanistan."



Addressing reporters in Kabul, Mr. Eide said this long-term commitment will depend on "a high degree of confidence and trust" between the government and the international community.

The UN envoy was speaking ahead of an expected announcement by United States President Barack Obama regarding a revised strategy for Afghanistan.
He also noted that a London conference on the country will be held in January 2010.

Bissera Kostova, United Nations
duration: 56"

Sound bites

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, cut 1

"My hope--and I think this is a hope that is shared by everybody in the government and in the international community--is that these few months can give us a momentum that has been lost during the election process and is badly needed. It's quite clear the international community has to reassert a long-term commitment to Afghanistan."
Duration: 17"

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, cut 2

"We have to move into a new phase where greater authority is given to the Afghan institutions: where we build them up, and where we can say that what we do is sustainable, because much of what we've done so far, particularly on the civilian side, I believe, has not been focused as much as we should on sustainability."
Duration: 15"

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, cut 3

"What I hope is that when we have the London conference behind us, that we would also be able to address some of the other critical issues. For instance: if we are to deliver services to the people, it cannot be done via international parallel structures, it has to be done via Afghan institutions. That's going to take time but the longer we wait, the more time it will take."
Duration: 17"

Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, cut 4

"And then on the economy (SEGUE) we really need to focus on what builds growth inside Afghanistan and not what builds growth through international assistance. The day will come where this assistance will diminish and then we need to have Afghan domestic resources in place that can sustain what we have done so far. If we don't do that, then we risk that what we've done in health, what we've done in education, what we've done in roads, etc, will not have the resources that will enable the Afghans to sustain it, and we risk that some of these things will collapse."
Duration: 29"