S/PV.7338 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Afghanistan to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2014/893, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Australia. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2189 (2014). I now give the floor to the representative of Afghanistan.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Republic of Chad for its leadership of the Security Council during this month. I would also like to thank Council members for the adoption of resolution 2189 (2014), which is of vital importance to ongoing stabilization efforts and to the future of Afghanistan. I also thank Ambassador Quinlan and his team at the Permanent Mission of Australia for their hard work and able facilitation of the resolution, as well as for their dedication as the penholder on Afghanistan. This resolution has been adopted as the mission of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ends and a new phase in Afghanistan’s history begins. In just 19 days, Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will assume full responsibility for the security of the country as the transition process comes to a close on December 31. The adoption of this resolution is a clear indication of the continuing support of the Council and the international community for the efforts of the Afghan people and the Government of Afghanistan to bring peace, stability, democracy and prosperity to the country throughout the transformation decade. At this crucial juncture in our history, this resolution signifies the necessity of enduring and long-term support for Afghanistan. As the transformation decade begins, we are grateful to our NATO and international partners for their commitment to train, advise and assist the ANDSF after the completion of the ISAF mission. No doubt, there are challenges ahead. Al-Qaida and the Taliban continue to launch brutal terror attacks. Just yesterday, a suicide bomber attacked a French school in Kabul, killing civilians and injuring 15. A few weeks ago, a suicide bomber attacked a crowd watching a volleyball match in Paktika province, killing over 50 people and wounding more than 60 others. Those are but a few examples of a series of horrific attacks on civilians in Kabul and around the country. In the face of those challenges, the new President and the national unity Government of Afghanistan look forward to strengthening cooperation with our NATO, regional and international partners. We understand that peace and stability cannot be achieved through security measures alone. To that end, the Government of Afghanistan is embarking upon an ambitious reform agenda aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the country. I would like to take this opportunity to express the Government of Afghanistan’s profound gratitude to the NATO and partner countries and their international forces, who have sacrificed their blood and treasure to support Afghanistan in its fight to advance peace and security in the country. With the ongoing support of our international partners, including through the Resolute Support Mission, and the vigorous work of the new Government of Afghanistan, their efforts will not have been in vain.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.