Afghanistan
Table des matières
"France will remain engaged with its allies and the Afghan people, in the transition process expected to end in late 2014" Gerard Araud, Permanent Representative of France, Secrurity Council, July 6, 2011
1. Latest developments at the Security Council 
On 4 April 2013, the Security Council adopted a press statement, condemning the terrorist attack in Farah Province of Afghanistan the day before.
On 19 March 2013, the Security Council held a public debate following the report of Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon on the situation in Afghanistan, as well as on UNAMA activities there.
With the presidential and legislative elections looming in 2014 and 2015, Afghanistan was at a turning point of its transition. Mr BAN called upon the Council to continue to provide good offices in the country, especially during this important period.
As a follow-up, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2096 renewing UNAMA’s mandate for 12 months.
In his statement, the French Representative reaffirmed the support of France to Afghanistan in the transition period from war to peace, highlighting the ratification of the friendship and cooperation treaty by both countries.
Drug, nevertheless, remained a priority challenge for the country which UNAMA had to consider in its actions on the future of Afghanistan.
The complete timeline of events here.
2. Commitment on the ground
France works alongside forty-seven nations, at the request of the Afghan authorities and under the UN mandate, within the framework of a force under commandment of NATO, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). It is the fourth leading supplier of troops to ISAF, with a commitment of 3935 men.
ISAF was established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 through resolution 1386. Its mandate is renewed every year by the Security Council (the last renewal was on 12 October 2011 until 12 October 2012 with resolution 2011). The force has been under NATO command since 11 August 2003 and its mandate is to help the Afghan government guarantee a safe environment in Kabul that will ensure the successful reconstruction and development of the country through civilian efforts. French military efforts fall within the scope of a comprehensive policy to provide reconstruction assistance, clearly aimed at the gradual transfer of responsibilities to the Afghan people. The NATO summit of December 2010 validated a strategy aiming at transferring the security responsibilities of the country to the Afghan authorities for 2014.
The United Nations is represented in Afghanistan by a civil mission, the United Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), established by Security Council Resolution 1401 (8 March 2002), whose mandate was renewed for one year on 22 March 2012, by Resolution 2041. France does not supply personnel to this mission. Under the direction of the Secretary General’s Special Representative, Kai Eide, UNAMA is responsible for supporting Afghanistan in its democratic transition. It is headed by Mr Staffan de Mistura, who replaced M. Kai Eide on 2 March 2010 as Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
France contributes about 150 gendarmes to the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF), which was set up following resolution 1890. EFG participates in the operational training of the Afghan national police force which will be able to eventually take over from the military on the ground.
3. Diplomatic actions
In addition to increasing the number high level bilateral visits to Afghanistan, France strengthened its activities on the international scene by organizing two high level events. The International Conference in Support of Afghanistan on 12 June 2008, in Paris achieved donor commitments of $20 billion for the reconstruction and development in Afghanistan.
The informal ministerial-level meeting for Afghanistan and its neighbors was held at La Celle Saint-Cloud on 14 December 2008. At the meeting, France reaffirmed its commitment to take up the major challenges facing the country, in particular with regard to strengthening the rule of law and security, fighting corruption and terrorism, reforming the police and the legal system, combating drug production and trafficking and improving the regional coordination in order to provide the economic development of Afghanistan.
At the United Nations, France initiated Security Council Resolution 1817 (11 June 2008) aimed at combating the illegal production and international trafficking of precursor chemicals in Afghanistan. France indicated it would like to further integrate the regional dimension of the Afghan conflict into its approach to this country in order to reinforce the cooperation of neighbouring countries with the International Narcotics Control Board.
France, along with Germany and the United Kingdom, proposed that an international conference be convened on Afghanistan. This took place in London on 28 January 2010, and was co-hosted by Prime minister Gordon Brown, President Karzai and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It focused on three key areas: security; development and governance; the regional framework and international architecture.
Following the international conference, a Final Communiqué was adopted.
An international conference on Afghanistan was held on 20 July 2010 in Kabul. Following this conference co-hosted by President Karzai and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a Final Communiqué was adopted.
4. Work of the General Assembly
Each year the General Assembly adopts a resolution by consensus on the situation in Afghanistan. This practice began in the early 80s, when the General Assembly was asked to react to the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in response to the paralysis of the Security Council.
On 4 November 2010, the General Assembly adopted its resolution on “the situation in Afghanistan ", which provides a comprehensive presentation of the various issues at stake in the country : reconciliation, elections, changes in the security situation, transition, fight against drug trafficking, follow-up of the Kabul conference.
On 9 November 2009, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted by consensus its annual resolution on Afghanistan. It welcomed the holding of presidential elections in Afghanistan and called on the new government to implement concrete reforms to create a relationship of trust with the Afghan citizens. The resolution called in particular on the future government to strengthen the rule of law, to fight against corruption and to accelerate the reform of the legal system (Mr. Hamid Karzai was declared winner of the presidential elections on 2 November by the Independent Electoral Commission after the withdrawal before the second round of voting of his opponent Dr. Abdullah Abdullah).
(April 2013)
5. Latest French statements
19 March 2013 - Security Council - Afghanistan – Statement by Mr Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations
19 December 2012 – Security Council – Afghanistan / UNAMA – Statement by Mr. Martin Briens, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations
See all French statements
6. Reference documents
4 April 2013 - Security Council - Press statement
19 March 2013 - Security Council - Resolution 2096, renewing for one year UNAMA mandate
17 December 2012 - Security Council - Resolutions 2082 and 2083 renewing for 18 months the sanctions regime against Al Qaeda and the Talibans.
9 October 2012 - Security Council - Resolution 2069 - renewing for one year the authorization given to ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) of the use of force in Afghanistan.
17 August 2012 - Security Council Press Statement
22 March 2012 - Security Council - Resolution 2041 renewing for one year UNAMA mandate
12 October 2011 - Security Council - Resolution 2011 renewing for one year the authorization given to ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)
1 April 2011 - Security Council Press Statement on the attack in Mazar-i-Sharif
22 March 2011 - Security Council - Resolution 1974 renewing for one year UNAMA mandate
4 November 2010 - General Assembly - Resolution on the situation in Afghanistan on the Kabul International Conference
20 July 2010 - Kabul International Conference - Final Communiqué
5 February 2010 - London Conference on Afghanistan - Security Council Press Statement
28 January 2010 - London Conference on Afghanistan - Communiqué final
9 November 2009 - General Assembly - Resolution A/RES/64/11
8 October 2009 - Security Council - Resolution 1890
20 August 2009 - Security Council Press Statement on Afghanistan elections
15 July 2009 - Security Council Presidential Statement
16 June 2008 - Security Council Press Statement
17 July 2007 - Security Council Presidential Statement
7. Useful links
Read the file on Afghanistan on the French Foreign Ministry’s website
Brochure : "France’s commitment in Afghanistan"
