Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC briefing on the situation in Afghanistan
Mme.President,
We thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva for sharing her assessments of the situation in Afghanistan. Russia supports the activities of UNAMA under your lead in the framework of implementing its mandated tasks. We welcome that the United Nations remains committed to maintaining its presence in Afghanistan and providing the required assistance to the people of the country.
We followed closely the remarks of Ms. Shabana Basij-Rasikh. We also welcome that regionals have been given a say in this discussion.
We took note of Secretary-General’s recent report on Afghanistan that was circulated shortly. We would like to make a few points in this connection.
It has been almost two years since the hasty flight of US and NATO troops and the rise of the Taliban to power. Afghanistan and its people have lived in a new reality, coping with long-standing problems and emerging challenges almost single-handedly. The high-sounding promises to build the long-awaited peace in fact have remained mere empty words.
Against this backdrop, it becomes more and more evident that the US and other Western countries, who basically ruined Afghanistan over those 20 years and then left behind both the country and its people at the crucial moment, are not interested in a genuine settlement and recovery of Afghanistan at all. How else can we explain their unwillingness (which they furnish by various artificial and hypocritical pretexts) to provide real assistance in resolving the unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis?
We realize that our Western colleagues simply have no time for Afghanistan, because they dedicate all their resources to opposing Russia “on the Ukrainian field”. This is American signature style as it is. First invade a country on the pretext of combating terrorism, “start a mess”, then whenever priorities change just leave it all behind. Besides, the US and its allies in NATO are trying to erase from history (including under threats of sanctions) any evidence of the numerous war crimes committed by American and NATO troops. The true reasons for such a long stay in Afghanistan are also being hushed up.
In these circumstances, broad statements of Western colleagues about the current deteriorating situation in the country and the sufferings of the Afghan people, including women and girls, as well as calls to reach for the "sanctions club" and increase political and economic pressure on the de facto authorities look immoral. They do not have the courage to admit that their favored methods lost effectiveness long ago. The consequences of such actions will only hurt ordinary Afghans, but will not fundamentally change the situation on the ground. However, this approach does not surprise us. Kabul has long realized this and is looking for its own way of independent development for Afghanistan without relying on Western assistance.
We share the Secretary-General's assessment of the difficult internal political situation in Afghanistan. We remain especially concerned by the security risks posed by the terrorist activities of ISIL-Khorasan. We see that in 20 years of foreign presence the terrorists have firmly established their influence in the country and are deliberately stirring up the situation by organizing more attacks and instilling fear and despair. The goal is clear: to present themselves as an alternative force. Their victims are members of religious and ethnic minorities, including women and children. They held a series of high-profile terrorist attacks in early June, with more than 20 victims. They also intend to undermine stability in Afghanistan's neighboring states. It is no secret that ISIL is supported by external forces. The militants themselves confirm being funded by foreign intelligence agencies and having FTFs among their ranks. The safety of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and humanitarian workers on the ground may also be jeopardized. We note the efforts of the de facto authorities. However, it is clear that this is not enough to eradicate the threat completely. In the meantime, it is very possible that terrorist activity may spill over from Afghanistan into broader Central Asia.
Closely related to terrorism is the drug problem. It is clear that amidst widespread hunger and poverty, it will be difficult for Afghanistan to cope with the challenges alone without comprehensive international and regional assistance. Support for Afghan farmers is more important than ever. However, the United States Institute of Peace recently published an article with a very eloquent title “The Taliban’s Successful Opium Ban is Bad for Afghans and the World”. How do you like that?
The socio-economic situation in the country remains a subject of our close scrutiny. We take note of the efforts made by the United Nations and regional organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. We note in particular the dedicated work of humanitarian agencies and their personnel, who are ready to remain on the ground and help Afghans under any circumstances. At the same time, we see that these steps are insufficient. Western donors are still blocking efforts of the UN to expand aid beyond basic needs. They strongly reject the possibility of contributing to the development of the country, reconstruction of schools and hospitals, construction of roads to connect cities and provinces with rural areas.
We continue to follow the human rights situation of all Afghans, including women and girls, and the process of establishing a truly inclusive government with participation of all ethnical and political groups.
Mme.President,
Building a long-term sustainable peace in Afghanistan is impossible without continued patient and pragmatic engagement with the new authorities on a wide range of pressing issues. Observance of a comprehensive approach is a factor that also determines the effectiveness of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
It is Russia’s standing position that we need to engage with Afghanistan with a view to ensuring a comprehensive settlement. Together with our regional partners, we are working to develop a shared approach to the situation in the country. The Moscow Format also serves this purpose. We note the potential of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. Also, we coordinate positions on this matter regularly within such formats as the CSTO and CIS. On May 1-2, we took part in the meeting of the Secretary-General with the special envoys for Afghanistan in Doha. In bilateral contacts with the de facto authorities, we encourage them to speed up fulfilment of all the announced tasks and implementation of the relevant promises.
We continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and to develop cooperation at the socio-economic track. We are interested in boosting pragmatic relations with Kabul, including with a view to restoring the infrastructure of the enterprises that our country built in Afghanistan.
Thank you.
