UN / AFGHANISTAN

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, told the Security Council that in addition to fighting “an insurgency that seems to be gaining ground,” political tension, and difficulty integrating returnees, Afghanistan faces “an economy that is only very slowly recovering after the international drawdown in 2014, and pervasive corruption.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:18
• Production Date: 21 June 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL; UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA
• Subject Topical: CORRUPTION; GOVERNANCE; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: 1914795
• Parent Id: 1914795
• Alternate Title: unifeed170621f

Description

STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 02:17
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

21 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan:
“Afghanistan faces numerous internal challenges in addition to fighting an insurgency that seems to be gaining ground. These include deep rooted political tension, the difficulty of integrating socially and economically the thousands of Afghan refugees who return each day, an economy that is only very slowly recovering after the international drawdown in 2014, and pervasive corruption.”
4. Wide shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan:
“Without enhanced efforts by the National Unity Government to increase political inclusiveness, strengthen accountability, and improve the Government’s credibility, particularly in the security sector, we are likely to face more crises in an increasingly fragile environment.”
6. Wide shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan:
“Corruption undermines the legitimacy of the state. It prevents a real economy from emerging. It contributes to insecurity. Corruption is at the heart of the problem of impunity, which itself is at the heart of the ongoing human rights challenges. Afghans alone are not to blame, but the consequences of corruption disproportionately affect Afghanistan.”
8. Wide shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mahmoud Saikal, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations
“The Government of National Unity is currently in the process of a national dialogue to strengthen consensus on relevant issues and address political grievances. We believe good governance can only flourish in an environment free of any particular ethnic or linguistic consideration. We will continue to focus on the greater task at hand – working towards economic self-sufficiency, tackling corruption, and humanitarian relief for our people.”
10. Wide shot, Council

Storyline

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, told the Security Council today (21 Jun) that in addition to fighting “an insurgency that seems to be gaining ground,” political tension, and difficulty integrating returnees, Afghanistan faces “an economy that is only very slowly recovering after the international drawdown in 2014, and pervasive corruption.”

He noted that there have been indications since last summer that Afghanistan’s broad political consensus was fraying, and in recent months, a growing number of political factions, have begun to criticise and demand reforms to the Government.

Yamamoto said that “without enhanced efforts by the National Unity Government to increase political inclusiveness, strengthen accountability, and improve the Government’s credibility, particularly in the security sector, we are likely to face more crises in an increasingly fragile environment.”

Corruption, he said “undermines the legitimacy of the state. It prevents a real economy from emerging. It contributes to insecurity. Corruption, he continued, “is at the heart of the problem of impunity, which itself is at the heart of the ongoing human rights challenges.”

He stressed that efforts at inclusiveness and building consensus for political stability are critical to address these issues.

Afghan ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, for his part said “we believe good governance can only flourish in an environment free of any particular ethnic or linguistic consideration” and said the government “will continue to focus on the greater task at hand – working towards economic self-sufficiency, tackling corruption, and humanitarian relief for our people.”