LITHUANIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER: PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN NEED TO BE ASSISTED IN PREPARING TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY ON THEIR OWN
On 15 October in Kabul, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide.
During the meeting, V.Ušackas and K.Eide discussed elections and the situation in Afghanistan after the elections, the role of the UN in coordinating the activities of the international community in Afghanistan, the joint strategy for Afghanistan’s national reconstruction by the international community.
Minister V.Ušackas emphasized that the aim of the international community in Afghanistan was not to be a permanent policeman, but to establish conditions for a long term and lasting stability and security of the country, so that one day the people of Afghanistan would be given full responsibility for the future of their country.
“People of Afghanistan need to be assisted in preparing to govern the country on their own, because our mission is not eternal,” Minister V.Ušackas said.
According to the Minister, the international community is determined to help Afghanistan to guarantee the stability and security. However, the success in Afghanistan will also depend on an active and responsible Government of Afghanistan.
Another precondition for success in Afghanistan is the coordination of international community’s economic and military effort. Minister V.Ušackas highlighted that the effort of the international community – the European Union, UN, NATO and individual countries – in reconstructing Afghanistan would give a greater effect, if there was a clear strategy for an enhanced coordination of joint activities.
Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy highlighted that it was important to maintain a balance between the strategic projects for the entire country and those for the provinces, such as Ghor.
While discussing the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Minister V.Ušackas stressed that it was necessary to enhance the activities of UNAMA in the Ghor Province and to search for ways to reinforce the UNAMA’s unit in Ghor.
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