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UN / AFGHANISTAN
STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 3.24
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
RECENT
1. Wide shot, exterior of the UN
25 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council Chamber
3. SOUNDBITE (English), Jan Kubis, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan:
“These are Afghan elections. We can facilitate Afghan parties in reaching solutions. We can provide technical expertise to advise on the possibilities and modalities or strengthen checks and balances where there are questions of the process. What we cannot do is to prepare solutions and decide on behalf of Afghans. That is the exclusive responsibility of Afghans. United Nations efforts to assist Afghan institutions and stakeholders. We cannot substitute for them or replace them.”
4. Cutaway, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English), Jan Kubis, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan:
“The country’s political class and notably the two candidates Dr Abdulah and Dr Ghani hold the paramount responsibility to manage this situation. The wishes of the people for timely conclusion of the leadership transition in accordance with country’s laws need to be respected. They must decisively and actively engage in finding solution to current impasse and contribute to Afghanistan’s forward momentum in what is a critical time.
6. Cutaway, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English), Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
“At this crucial moment Afghanistan needs continues international support. If its economic development declines and international aid is reduced along with its business confidence, reliance on illicit economy will further increase.”
8. Cutaway, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English), Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
“Over the last decade drugs cultivation and production has been the most profitable illicit and criminal business activities in Afghanistan. At UNODC we estimate that the global opium market is worth some 68 billion USD and 80 per cent of world’s opium and heroin is produced in Afghanistan. The narcotic trade is maybe worth between 10 to 15 per cent of the country’s GDP.
10. Cutaway, delegates
11. SOUNDBITE (English), Zahir Tanin, Permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN
“This is a pivotal moment for Afghanistan; we are at the last stage of our country's historic
presidential elections. This democratic transition is the cornerstone of the Afghan-led and
Afghan-owned progression to peace, stability, and prosperity.”
12. Cutaway, delegates
13. SOUNDBITE (English), Zahir Tanin, Permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN:
“The recent operation of Pakistani forces in North Waziristan, which led to the displacement of thousands of families to Afghanistan's Khost province and the associated loss of life, is a serious source of concern for the government of Afghanistan. We urge the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to prioritize the greater security of Afghanistan and the region at this crucial time.”
14. Wide shot, SC Chamber
Addressing the Security Council via video link from Kabul today (25 June), the head of the United Nations (UN) mission in Afghanistan Jan Kubis said that the UN stands ready to assist Afghans in finding a way out of current crisis but it cannot “prepare solutions and decide on behalf of Afghans.”
Kubis stated that it was the country’s “political class and notably the two candidates” who hold the “paramount responsibility” to manage this situation and called on them to respect the wishes of the Afghan people for a “timely conclusion of the leadership transition in accordance with country’s laws.”
The executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)Yury Fedotov called on the international community to offer a continues international support” at this critical moment and warned that if Afghan economy declines and international aid dries out, the Afghanistan’s illicit economy will grow further.
According to UNODC, Afghanistan is producing about 80 percent of world’s opium and heroin, making cultivation and production of drugs the most profitable illicit and criminal activity in the country, worth some 68 billion USD.
Zahir Tanin, Permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN said his country is at the “pivotal moment”, the cornerstone of the “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned progression to peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Commenting on the ongoing military offensive of the Pakistan’s army in its tribal region bordering Afghanistan, Tanin said the offensive is a “serious source of concern” for his government and urged the Pakistan’s government to prioritize the greater security of Afghanistan and the region at this crucial time.”
The Council wrapped up its work on Afghanistan with the adoption of separate presidential statements: one calling on all stakeholders to engage with the electoral institutions and processes with patience and respect, refrain from any acts that incite imminent violence, civil disorder or lead to instability; and the other calling on States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat posed by the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs originating in Afghanistan.
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