Naujienos

I wish to begin by congratulating the Russian Presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the EU by Vygaudas Ušackas, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan. In addition, let me share with you a few points concerning elections, civilian protection and human rights, and UNAMA’s future.

Statement by Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė,
Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations
at the UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan
19 March 2013
 
Mr. President,

I wish to begin by congratulating the Russian Presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the EU by Vygaudas Ušackas, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan.  In addition, let me share with you a few points concerning elections, civilian protection and human rights, and UNAMA’s future.

My first point is on the electoral processes. We welcome the continued engagement of the political parties and civil society in election-related developments, as the elections of 2014 and 2015 will have a defining impact on Afghanistan’s future transformation.

It is therefore essential that these elections should be inclusive, transparent, free, and fair. Critical preparations for the elections must be accelerated, including a solid, unhindered process of voter identification and registration.

The adoption of a robust electoral framework, with an inbuilt mechanism for electoral fraud prevention and dispute resolution is required. Electoral management bodies should be duly in place. Qualified officials have to be appointed to the election commission without any further delay. Full international observation of the elections should be guaranteed.

We encourage DPA’s Electoral Assistance Division, UNDP, and UNAMA to continue their efforts in providing all necessary assistance in preparation for the Afghan-led elections.

I would like to recall that in the past, one of the OSCE's Asian Partners for Co-operation, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights deployed elections support teams to Afghanistan. As a result, a solid set of recommendations on improving the electoral framework was presented by the OSCE in Kabul in 2012. We encourage the Afghan officials to make use of the vast experience and recommendations offered by the OSCE.

My second point is on the situation of women and girls. Just recently, at the UN CSW 57th session, we heard a firm reassurance on the part of the Afghan Government regarding its commitment to the empowerment of women. A post-Taliban Afghanistan has seen the appointment of the first female district governor, Saira Shakeeb Sadat.

Three women hold ministerial posts and 69 women serve in the two Houses of Parliament. Women are also asserting themselves in the High Peace Council. The Democratic Policing programme carried out by the Ministry of Interior, with the participation of UNAMA and UNOPS, enables reaching out to local communities, including women and children. 

We welcome these developments and reiterate that women’s full participation in the reconciliation and transformation processes is essential for the construction of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.

Yet at the same time, every two hours a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes. Domestic violence against women and women’s imprisonment for alleged moral crimes are a cause for alarm. Also alarming is the fact that the number of women and girls killed or injured during last year saw a considerable increase, as noted in the Secretary General’s report S/2013/133.

We therefore encourage the UN to continue its support to systematic monitoring and reporting on gender commitments contained in the Tokyo Declaration and Mutual Accountability Framework.

Third, my delegation remains concerned about the level of casualties among the civilians and increased targeting of civilian locations by anti-Government forces and illegal armed groups.

In particular, continuing deaths and injuries of children, as reported by the UN-led Country Task Force on monitoring and reporting on children and armed conflict, is a cause of grave concern. We hope that the Action Plan for Prevention of Underage Recruitment and its annexes on killing and maiming as well as sexual violence against children will be fully implemented and that all necessary measures will be taken to prevent violations of the rights of the child. 

Over one million Afghans live within 500 meters of mine contaminated areas. As a MAPA donor, Lithuania supports the Afghan mine clearing efforts. While welcoming the progress achieved so far, we encourage the Afghan Government to work on mine action legislation with all relevant mine action stakeholders, and to clear all APLs by 2013 as part of its obligation under the Ottawa Convention.

Finally, a point on regional co-operation. Lasting peace solutions and success in Afghanistan’s transition process require an active involvement of all regional stakeholders. For the UN and regional organizations to achieve greater synergies, it is important to better coordinate their efforts in Afghanistan and the region, including with countries of Central Asia.  

We are heartened by the support and determination of the states in the region, through the Istanbul Process, bilateral Afghan-Pakistan dialogue and other initiatives, to address the manifold challenges facing the Afghan nation. This is a path that we encourage to continue pursuing, for the sake of a stable, secure and prosperous future of Afghanistan.

The opening of an office in Doha for the purpose of negotiations could be a step towards a peaceful Afghan-led solution to the Taliban insurgency. Reconciliation has to be an inclusive and Afghan-owned process. We welcome the UNSC readiness to adjust the Taliban sanctions regime in support of those efforts.

To conclude, I welcome the adoption by the Council of the resolution extending the mandate of UNAMA for 12 months. UNAMA with a strong political role will be an essential partner to the Afghan Government during the transformation period. Let me note that further cuts in the budget of UNAMA may have a negative impact its ability to fulfill its core mandate. Given the magnitude of the challenges facing Afghanistan and the wider region, a properly staffed and resourced UNAMA remains key to ensuring the success of the transition period.

I thank you.