Questions and Answers with Ambassador Crosbie

What do you see as your main job as ambassador?

One of my main responsibilities will be to lead our growing Canadian team in Afghanistan. The civilian contribution to Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan has almost doubled over the past year. Today we have 107 civilian officials deployed in Kabul and Kandahar, including personnel from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Public Safety, and Correctional Service of Canada. That is in addition to the approximately 2850 Canadian Forces personnel stationed here. A key part of my job will be working closely with our military colleagues to ensure that we achieve our collective objectives. We have a substantial agenda ahead of us and I am concentrating on achieving that agenda.

What does Canada want to achieve in the next year?

Canada is helping Afghans to create a society and economy that will bring them peace and prosperity. We are doing this through the six priorities and three signature projects – spanning the areas of development, security and governance - to which we have committed ourselves. I have had the opportunity to meet many Afghan representatives of government and civil society since my arrival and I am confident that these priorities and projects enjoy wide support from our Afghan partners. Canada commands a great deal of respect here. Canada is recognized and respected for our contributions and our leadership.NATO allies, including the US and other key contributors, haveexpressed theirappreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices Canada continues to make in Afghanistan.

What do you see as the most significant issues in the year ahead?

Of course, the completion of the presidential and provincial council electoral process. These elections have been a historic undertaking. Across the country, the Afghan people mobilised in the millions to organise, campaignandvote in these elections. The Afghan media provided opportunities for candidates to debate the issues and many Afghans for the first time observed a real, national, political campaign. Next year’s parliamentary elections will be equally important. Canada is committed to working with the next government. We will be looking for a greater emphasis on good governance through establishing democratic and accountable national institutions, through delivery of basic services, and through strengthened efforts to combat corruption.

Can you achieve your objectives when the security situation is so difficult?

The overall security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated since 2007, as we have indicated in our quarterly reports to Parliament. This assessment is in line with similar assessments made by NATO and our coalition allies in Afghanistan. Taliban strikes are indiscriminate – attacking both civilians and military. They employ tactics such as roadside bombs, vehicle bombs and suicide bombs, all of which have a detrimental impact on Afghans and the international community – ourselves included. Incidents in both Kandahar and Kabul clearly illustrate how difficult and dangerous the work is. But Canada’s goals in Afghanistan are realistic. Canada will continue working with the Afghan people; striving to improve the local security situation and helping to set the conditions for increased development.

Does it make it difficult to meet these goals because of the timeline for our military pull out?

Though our military commitment will come to an end in 2011, there is no question that we will have an on-going engagement in Afghanistan on the development and diplomatic side. In fact we are continuing to ramp up our engagement this year with more Canadian civilians. We’re committed to achieving results this year and that is my focus.