Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-15-Speech-3-030"
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"en.20030115.1.3-030"2
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"Mr President, President-in-Office, Commissioner, the strategic importance of Afghanistan cannot be overestimated. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is an important bulwark against the resurgence of extremism in the region.
One year after the Bonn Conference, it is an opportune time to reflect on the EU's contribution in restoring peace, stability and credible political structures.
Commissioner Patten was right to emphasise the contribution that the EU as a whole and the EU Commission in particular have made during the last year.
EU funds have been used to finance health clinics and primary schools, the clearance of landmines, the return of key public service workers, the creation of jobs to combat the opium production that is spiralling in post-Taliban Afghanistan, the rebuilding of infrastructures, clean-up operations in 7 cities and support for the return of the 1.8 million or so refugees returning to the country.
This in an impressive list and the Commission, ECHO and the various aid organisations involved deserve credit.
However, on the general issue of aid, it is important to point out that, although the total aid from the international community may seem enormous when compared to other areas in crisis, Afghanistan is at the bottom of the pile when we look at aid given per capita. The average aid pledges to Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor and Rwanda were approximately $250 per person, as against $75 for Afghanistan.
The international community should take note of this. As the Commissioner himself pointed out, investing money earlier is much more effective and more economical than spending money to pick up the pieces afterwards.
Given our strong record on aid, I believe we have the moral authority to put pressure on our international partners to translate their verbal pledges into money. We should also use our influence to ensure a proper balance is struck between providing short term relief and undertaking long term reconstruction.
The EU has done a lot, but we cannot become complacent or allow the problems of Afghanistan to be sidelined by the prospect of war with Iraq or problems with North Korea. We have a moral obligation to create permanent peace and stability, tackle the problem of the warlords, improve human rights, especially, as other speakers have pointed out, women's rights, and establish real democracy in Afghanistan. Much still needs to be done. The holding of democratic elections next year, the establishment of a national army and the pursuit of good neighbourly relations are all positive steps in the right direction."@en1
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