New York, 10 November 2008

Mr. President,

Canada welcomes today’s resolution on Afghanistan. Canada is proud to have contributed to efforts to draft this resolution and we are pleased to co-sponsor its passage today.

Its approval is a testament to the on-going strength of the partnership we have been able to establish between the international community and Government of Afghanistan.

It also affirms our collective commitment to a safe, secure and stable Afghanistan.

Canada appreciates this opportunity to address the General Assembly with respect to the situation in Afghanistan.

Mr. President,

Canada acknowledges the strengthened leadership the United Nations has provided this past year, with a sharpened mandate for the Assistance Mission to better lead the coordination of international efforts and the appointment of Kai Eide as Special Representative of the Secretary General.

Initial progress has already been made. Canada welcomes UNAMA and the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to restructure the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board with a view to a less cumbersome, more efficient, more decisive instrument.

UNAMA’s role in Afghanistan is, after all, to shape and focus our collective efforts. However, the UN is not a solitary actor – it is only as empowered as its member states allow it to be. We must ensure that it has the financial resources and the political support required to do its job.

Mr. President,

The international community has much to learn from the Afghan people who continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination. In the face of a fierce insurgency, for example, the Afghan National Army continues to grow in numbers, capacity and professionalism.

With the support of the International Security Assistance Force, this Afghan institution is now able to lead a growing number of operations – unthinkable just a year ago. And just over two months ago Afghan security forces assumed lead security responsibility for Kabul, from ISAF – a proud and significant achievement.

Mr. President,

Canada welcomes Afghanistan's recent ratification of the UN anti-corruption convention in August of this year, meeting one of the benchmarks of the Afghanistan Compact.

While much still needs to be done we are also encouraged by the creation of a High Office of Oversight for the Implementation of Anti-Corruption Strategy in June 2008.

Mr President,

Canada remains committed to working with Afghans and the international community to help rebuild Afghanistan.

This past year Canada further increased its development commitment, pledging an additional $600M. This brings Canada’s total assistance contribution to $1.9 billion over a ten year period.

This in addition, of course, to our continued military engagement in Kandahar Province.

In particular, Canada announced its commitment to the repair of the Dahla Dam and its irrigation system in Kandahar Province. Once completed, the Dahla Dam will not only provide a secure irrigation water supply to the majority of the population of Kandahar Province, but has the potential to revitalize agriculture in the province and provide thousands of much needed jobs to Kandaharis.

Our Polio Eradication program will see the immunization of an estimated seven million children across Afghanistan.

Canada is committed to increasing our programming in Kandahar. At the same time, at least half of our funding will be dedicated to national level initiatives, such as strengthening vital national institutions, rebuilding the Afghan National Police, justice and corrections systems.

Mr President,

Canada is committed to supporting free, fair, secure, Afghan-led elections in 2009 and 2010 and echoes the resolution’s call to the international community to continue to provide sustained support and financial assistance.

With voter registration currently underway, the Afghan people are commencing their second electoral process in recent times. This is a crucial step in the establishment of democracy in Afghanistan.

Mr. President,

As the Secretary General noted in his September report on the situation in Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s neighbours and regional partners play a crucial role in promoting Afghanistan’s development and stability. Canada therefore welcome’s the resolution’s emphasis on regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security and development in Afghanistan.

Canada hasbeen workingto build cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, facilitating technical discussions among border management officials.We are also very supportive of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Jirga Process and congratulate the two countries on the recent meeting of the Jirgagai.

Mr President,

The progress we have seen must not blind us to the harsh reality that these gains are precarious.

Security has deteriorated in some parts of Afghanistan adversely affecting our collective governance and development efforts and ambitions.

Rising global food prices have not spared Afghanistan, and drought and a failed harvest are compounding food shortages across the country.

These are the immediate and pressing concerns of Afghans. For this reason, Canada has named humanitarian relief among its priorities. In doing so, we are making clear to the Afghan people that the international community remains committed to supporting them.

But it is action and change, not words, that will convince them.

Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity to share Canada’s views today.

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