SC/8669
24 March 2006
Security Council Extends Afghanistan Mission for 12 Months, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1662 (2006)
NEW YORK, 23 March (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council this morning extended for an additional 12 months the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in order to provide political and strategic guidance to the Afghan leadership and its international partners as they embark on the ambitious and vital next phase of State-building.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1662 (2006), the Council also called on all Afghan parties and groups to engage constructively in the peaceful political development of the country and avoid resorting to violence.
In addition, the Council reiterated its call on the Afghan Government, and on all members of the international community and international organizations, to implement the Afghanistan Compact -- a five-year framework agreed to in London at the end of January to help consolidate democratic institutions, curb insecurity, control the illegal drug trade, stimulate the economy, enforce the law, provide basic services to the Afghan people and protect their human rights -- and its annexes in full.
In his latest report on the situation in Afghanistan (document S/2006/145), the Secretary-General states that the country would continue to need considerable political and financial engagement by the international community for some time to come. The commitments entered into by the Government and the international community in launching the Afghanistan Compact provided a reassuring signal and a clearly articulated common vision of Afghanistan's future.
Indeed, he added, without sustained support, the danger of a relapse into the dynamics that plunged Afghanistan into years of war, and the re-emergence of the consequences of the years of neglect, would be genuine. (For the full summary of the report, see Press Release SC/8660 issued on 14 March.)
The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 10:09 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 1662 (2006) reads as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 1589 (2005) extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) through 24 March 2006, and its resolution 1659 (2006) endorsing the Afghanistan Compact,
"Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
"Reaffirming in this context its support for the implementation by the Afghan Government and all members of the international community and international organizations of the Afghanistan Compact under the ownership of the Afghan people and its support for the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy (iANDS),
"Pledging its continued support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they build on the successful completion of the Bonn Process in rebuilding their country, strengthening the foundations of a constitutional democracy and assuming their rightful place in the community of nations,
"Stressing the inalienable right of the people of Afghanistan freely to determine their own future and welcoming the successful holding of the Parliamentary and Provincial elections on 18 September 2005,
"Determined to assist the Government and people of Afghanistan in building on the successful London Conference held on 31 January-1 February 2006,
"Recognizing the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan, affirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, development as well as the cross-cutting issue of counter-narcotics, which necessarily involves capacity-building, is mutually reinforcing, and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the international community to address these challenges,
"Recognizing the continuing importance of combating increased terrorist attacks caused by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups and narcotic threat,
"Expressing concern at the increasing threat to the local population, national security forces, international military and international assistance efforts by extremist activities and stressing the importance of the security and safety of the United Nations staff,
"Recalling the importance of the Kabul Declaration of 22 December 2002 on Good-Neighbourly Relations (Kabul Declaration) (S/2002/1416), and stressing that regional cooperation constitutes an effective means to promote security and development in Afghanistan,
"Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Afghanistan,
"Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan, including the coordination and monitoring of efforts in implementing the Afghanistan Compact,
"1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 7 March 2006 (S/2006/145);
"2. Welcomes the United Nations long-term commitment to work with the people and Government of Afghanistan;
"3. Decides to extend the mandate of UNAMA, as laid out in the report of the Secretary-General of 7 March 2006 (S/2006/145), for an additional period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution;
"4. Reiterates its call on the Afghan Government, and on all members of the international community and international organizations, to implement the Compact and its annexes in full;
"5. Emphasizes the importance of meeting the benchmarks and time lines of the Compact for progress on security, governance and development as well as the cross-cutting issue of counter-narcotics and of increasing the effectiveness and coordination of the assistance to Afghanistan;
"6. Calls on all Afghan parties and groups to engage constructively in the peaceful political development of the country and avoid resorting to violence;
"7. Welcomes the substantial progress in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in accordance with the Bonn Agreement, including the completion of disarmament and demobilization; encourages the Afghan Government to complete the DDR process by June 2006; calls for determined efforts by the Afghan Government, including its security authorities, to disband illegal armed groups and to dispose of ammunition stockpiles; and requests the international community to extend further assistance for these efforts, taking fully into account the guidance by UNAMA;
"8. Welcomes the development of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and the ongoing efforts to increase their capabilities as important steps towards the goal of Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country; and further welcomes in this regard the outcome of Doha Conference on Border Management on 28 February 2006;
"9. Welcomes the inauguration of the new Afghan National Assembly; commends Afghan efforts to ensure its efficient functioning, which will be critical to the political future of Afghanistan; welcomes the international efforts to provide technical assistance; and encourages all the institutions to work in a spirit of cooperation;
"10. Calls on the Afghan Government to ensure continued public administrative reform and anti-corruption efforts, as described in the Compact;
"11. Welcomes the finalization of the 10-year strategy for justice reform in Afghanistan, as detailed in the "Justice for All" paper presented by the Ministry of Justice; and invites the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, to continue to work towards the establishment of a fair and transparent justice system, including the reconstruction and reform of the correctional system, as highlighted in the Compact, in order to strengthen the rule of law throughout the country and eliminate impunity;
"12. Calls for full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan; in this regard, requests UNAMA, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to continue to assist in the full implementation of the human rights provisions of the Afghan constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights; commends the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission for its courageous efforts to monitor respect for human rights in Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect these rights; welcomes the adoption of Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation on 12 December 2005; and encourages international support for this Plan;
"13. Welcomes iANDS presented at the London Conference; calls on the Afghan Government to further provide strong leadership in its implementation; and encourage the fulfilment of the pledges made by the participants at the Conference, including financial assistance available for the implementation of the Strategy, which has reached $10.5 billion;
"14. Recognizes the risk that opium cultivation, production and trafficking poses to the security, development and governance of Afghanistan as well as to the region and internationally; welcomes the updated National Drug Control Strategy presented by the Afghan Government at the London Conference; calls on the Afghan Government, with support provided by the international community, to pursue early implementation of the strategy; and encourages additional international support for the four priorities identified in that Strategy including through contributions to the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund;
"15. Emphasizes the important role in monitoring the implementation of the Compact to be played by the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, which will be co-chaired by the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the Government of Afghanistan and supported by a small Secretariat;
"16. Welcomes the proposal of the Secretary-General to extend the reach of regional offices, security circumstances permitting;
"17. Calls upon all Afghan and international parties to continue to cooperate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its staff throughout the country;
"18. Calls upon the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, including the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the International Security Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities as they evolve, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other extremist groups and criminal activities;
"19. Encourages the promotion of confidence-building measures between Afghanistan and its neighbours in the spirit of the Kabul Declaration in order to foster dialogue and cooperation in the region in full respect for the principles of territorial integrity, mutual respect, friendly relations and non-interference in each other's internal affairs;
"20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every six months on developments in Afghanistan;
"21. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."
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