Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-04-Speech-3-124"
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"en.20020904.4.3-124"2
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"Mr President, I think everyone agrees that big improvements have taken place in Afghanistan in the last eight months, and I should like to thank MEPs for the debate that has been conducted, but there is also agreement that there are still major problems, as emphasised in, for example, some of the most recent speeches.
I should like firstly to add a couple of remarks about the issue of possible infringements of human rights, for example in connection with the recent discovery of mass graves in northern Afghanistan. There must be no doubt that the Council attaches crucial importance to the Afghan Government’s and the Afghan people’s taking responsibility for the past and for the war crimes that might have been committed. That does not of course mean only the atrocities committed by the Taliban regime. In that connection, President Karzai’s statement that the issue of the mass graves is to be investigated is encouraging.
The UN will play a central role in assisting the Afghan Government with this work. The EU too will of course help as far as possible, partly through our special representative, Mr Vendrell.
Regarding the difficult security situation, especially in the areas outside Kabul, it is my view that the most realistic and forward-looking approach at the moment is to strengthen the transitional government’s ability to take care of security itself, partly through assisting with demobilisation, building up the army and the police, developing programmes designed to root out drugs production and setting up an efficient judiciary. A number of EU Member States are making valuable contributions to this work. That also applies to the important task, to which Mr Van Orden referred, of clearing the many mines which are a constant danger to the civilian population and make economic regeneration more difficult.
The Council is also alert to the large need for aid of various kinds which has been highlighted on many sides of this Chamber and which is perhaps greater than first assumed, partly because of the large number of refugees who have returned. In order to contribute to stability in the country, we must, as has been stated, secure a visible peace dividend for the Afghan population. Aid is also an important tool in our efforts to strengthen the transitional government at the expense of the local warlords. I might point out that, at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in July, the Chairman of the Council reminded the Member States of the need to ensure that the promises made at the Tokyo Donor Conference earlier in the year are complied with in good time.
Finally, the issue of the situation of women in Afghanistan was raised on quite a few sides of the Chamber. Right from the beginning, the strengthening of women’s rights has been an absolutely central feature of EU policy, and we shall pursue this objective both in our dialogue with the Afghan parties and through the aid we provide. As Mrs Izquierdo Rojo said, it is a question of replacing burkas with driving licences. I agree entirely. Commissioner Patten will no doubt also say a little about this.
In an overall assessment of the situation in Afghanistan and of the efforts by the international community, it is important to keep a sense of proportion. As many have pointed out, there are serious problems in Afghanistan today. There are problems with security, with drugs production and, especially, with women’s rights. Compared with the situation less than a year ago, the conditions under which ordinary Afghans live have improved no end. It may be said that still more might have been expected, but I do not in actual fact think it could have been. In view of the circumstances, there was reason to fear the worst. The EU and the Member States reacted quickly and generously, as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
Thousands of Europeans, soldiers, police, emergency aid workers and officials are now making invaluable efforts to help Afghanistan get back on its feet. It is a difficult, thankless and dangerous task. Many had to lose their lives. We must, of course, always be receptive to criticism, but the efforts of all the courageous and committed people who have helped rebuild Afghanistan must not be belittled. On the contrary, we owe it to them to point out the major results that have been achieved. Europe has nothing to be ashamed of in Afghanistan, and I would just add, last of all, that 100 000 Afghans are now returning home to Afghanistan. Only very few are obtaining asylum in our countries, because it is now safe in Afghanistan, in any case in large areas of the country. In this connection, it is a question of acting in accordance with the declaration from the Seville Summit and making vigorous efforts to facilitate repatriation. That is something we owe to Afghanistan and to those people who are now taking the courageous step of returning."@en1
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