|
|
Wales Summit Declaration on Afghanistan
Press Release (2014) 121
Issued on 04 Sep. 2014
Issued by Heads of State and Government
of Allies and their International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troop
contributing partners
- Today we honoured Afghan and international personnel
who have lost their lives or been injured while serving in the largest
military coalition in recent history. We also pay tribute to the hundreds
of thousands of military and civilian personnel who have served with
ISAF and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) over the past
thirteen years. Their sacrifices and efforts have made all of our
nations safer and improved global security. For that, we are grateful.
-
ISAF has assisted the Afghan people to regain control
over their nation's destiny. It has enabled Afghanistan to develop
its security capabilities. It has helped Afghanistan make significant
advances in education, health, economic development, human rights
and fundamental freedoms, notably for women. Moreover, ISAF has
demonstrated political solidarity among our nations and improved
our ability to act and operate together.
-
ISAF will conclude at the end of 2014 as planned.
For over a year, the ANSF have been in the lead for combat operations
throughout the country. Although many challenges remain, they have
demonstrated that they are an effective force, gaining the respect
and confidence of the Afghan people and able to prevent insurgents
from achieving their objectives. When ISAF operations end, the Afghan
authorities will assume full responsibility for security. However,
our commitment to Afghanistan will endure beyond ISAF along with
our determination to ensure that we are never again threatened by
terrorists from within Afghanistan.
-
With the end of ISAF, the nature and scope of our
engagement with Afghanistan will change. We envisage three parallel,
mutually reinforcing, strands of activity:
-
In the short term, the Resolute Support Mission.
As decided at the Chicago Summit in 2012, at the invitation of
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and in
the context of the broader international effort to help Afghanistan,
NATO Allies and partner nations stand ready to continue to train,
advise and assist the ANSF after 2014. This will be done through
a new, non-combat mission with a sound legal basis. The mission's
establishment is contingent on the signing of the U.S.-Afghanistan
Bilateral Security Agreement and NATO-Afghanistan Status of Forces
Agreement. The Resolute Support Mission should ideally, in consultation
with the Government of Afghanistan, be supported by a United Nations
Security Council Resolution.
-
In the medium term, our contribution to the financial
sustainment of the ANSF. At Chicago, NATO allies and ISAF partners
decided to provide support to the ANSF, as appropriate, through
the Transformation Decade, on the understanding that the Afghan
Government will make an increasing financial contribution to this
endeavour. Today, nations renewed their financial commitments
to support the sustainment of the ANSF, including to the end of
2017. We also urge the wider international community to remain
engaged in the financial sustainment of the ANSF. We will maintain
and strengthen the transparent, accountable and cost-effective
funding mechanisms we have established since Chicago, including
the Oversight and Coordination Body, which will ensure donors
can confidently commit this support. Realising the full promise
of the pledges made at Chicago on the financial sustainment of
the ANSF, which we have reaffirmed today, will require transparency,
accountability, and cost-effectiveness of the relevant international
funding mechanisms. We encourage the Afghan Government to continue
and strengthen efforts to fight corruption. We look forward to
working with the Afghan authorities to review the force structure
and capabilities of the ANSF to achieve a sufficient and sustainable
force. We restate the aim, agreed at Chicago, that Afghanistan
should assume, no later than 2024, full financial responsibility
for its own security forces.
-
In the long term, NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership.
NATO Allies remain committed to the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring
Partnership, agreed at the Lisbon Summit in 2010. The strengthening
of this partnership will reflect the changing nature of NATO's
relationship with Afghanistan whilst complementing the Resolute
Support Mission and continuing beyond it. Both the political and
practical elements of this partnership should be jointly owned
and strengthened through regular consultation on issues of strategic
concern. NATO is ready to work with Afghanistan to develop this
partnership in line with NATO's Partnership Policy, possibly including
the development of an Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme
at an appropriate time.
-
We will continue to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned
and inclusive peace process, as stated at the 2011 Bonn Conference
and at the Chicago Summit in 2012. We welcome efforts by all parties
that further this process.
-
Good neighbourly relations, as well as regional
support and cooperation will remain essential. This has been strengthened
notably by the Istanbul Process in the Heart of Asia region.
-
A stable Afghanistan will be able to make a positive
contribution to the wider region including through delivering progress
in the fight against narcotics trafficking, illegal migration, terrorism
and crime.
-
We are resolved to support Afghanistan in making
further progress towards becoming a stable, sovereign, democratic
and united country, where rule of law and good governance prevail
and in which human rights, and notably those of children, are fully
protected. We emphasize the particular importance of strengthening
efforts to implement the rights of women and the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, and to
include women fully in political, peace and reconciliation processes.
We further recognize the need for the protection of children from
the damaging effects of armed conflict as required in relevant United
Nations Resolutions. We also welcome continued work to strengthen
the protection of civilians by all parties concerned. Thus, we are
committed to continue working with Afghanistan to further strengthen
these values and principles.
-
Today we have extended significant offers of support
and partnership to Afghanistan as it determines its own future.
We remain steadfast and resolute in our commitment to the Afghan
people.
Source: NATO
|