§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they have made to the report of the United Nations Secretary General to the General Assembly (A/58/616 of 3 December 2003), and in particular to the conclusion that the international community must decide whether to increase its level of involvement in Afghanistan or risk failure. [HL980]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe report of the United Nations Secretary General to the General Assembly (A/58/616 of 3 December 2003) was discussed by the Security Council on 15 January in conjunction with a further report (S/2003/1212 of 30 December 2003). We agree with the Secretary126WA General's assessment in that second report that "a great deal has been achieved". The recent approval of a new constitution was a further significant milestone in the Bonn process.
But we recognise that a great deal remains to be done, not least as the Afghan Government prepare for national elections. The UK and the international community remain committed to Afghanistan. We have increased our bilateral development assistance from the £ 200 million pledged in January 2002 to £322 million. For further details of international and UK assistance to Afghanistan please refer to the Afghanistan fact sheet available in the Library of the House.
A number of other developments, in which we are involved, illustrate the sustained and increasing international commitment. UNSCR 1510 expanded the mandate of the Internal Security Assistance Force (ISAF); work is now in hand to plan and resource ISAF activities outside Kabul. The network of provincial reconstruction teams is being substantially extended across Afghanistan. UK-led work to tackle drugs production continues; a joint UK/Afghan/UN international conference in Kabul on 9 February will seek additional international support for counter-narcotics activities. The Afghans also plan a wider international donor conference for the spring
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about the identity and timing of the appointment of a successor to Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative on Afghanistan. [HL1001]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe understand that the United Nations Secretary General is still working to identify a successor to Mr Lakhdar Brahimi as Special Representative on Afghanistan. The UK is taking every opportunity to impress upon the UN and international partners the importance of appointing a successor quickly, to continue the good progress already made under the Bonn agreement.