The inter-Afghan peace negotiations need to get off to a substantive start [fr]

Mr. President,

First of all, I would like to thank today’s speakers for their briefings and their work in favour of peace in Afghanistan, starting of course with Deborah Lyons at the head of UNAMA, whose work I commend and thank. I would also like to pay tribute to the absolutely remarkable work and the unfailing commitment of Indonesia as Chair of the 1267 and 1988 Committees and as co-pen alongside Germany. They have done a truly remarkable job. Finally, a word for Shkula Zadran whose powerful testimony, courage and determination are a sign of hope on the long road to peace that Afghanistan is taking.

Today, I carry three messages.

First of all, I wish to emphasize the need for inter-Afghan peace negotiations to finally get off to a substantive start. The agreement on the code of conduct for these peace talks that was reached on December 2 is an encouraging first step. But I note that it took three months to reach it. And much remains to be done. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to recall that, in line with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the full and complete participation of women is absolutely essential if we want a lasting peace. The preservation of democratic gains is, of course, a sine qua non for peace.

Secondly, I would like to recall that the fight against terrorism must remain a priority for the international community. France condemns, in the strongest terms, the recent terrorist attacks such as the assassinations of journalists and media actors that were mentioned in the speeches. They threaten freedom of expression and the very foundations of Afghan society, and hamper peace efforts. The level of violence remains unacceptably high. The conflict in Afghanistan continues to claim the lives of too many civilians, particularly women and children. An immediate ceasefire, in accordance with resolution 2532 and the Secretary-General’s call, is essential. Finally, and this has also been mentioned, the fight against drugs in all its dimensions, from prevention to the eradication of production, is also essential to ensure lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Finally, no progress towards peace will be possible unless all parties to the conflict truthfully engage in discussions. And in this regard, the sincerity of the Taliban’s commitment remains to be demonstrated. As we are about to renew the mandate of the monitoring team attached to the 1988 Committee, I would like first of all to commend the work of the experts and recall the relevance of the 1988 sanctions committee. As decided by the Council in its resolution 2513, the revision of the sanctions list can only be considered if serious and credible pledges are given by the Taliban in terms of reducing violence, but also in terms of efforts in the service of negotiations and the renunciation of all activities that threaten the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. Our support for peace is constant, as we demonstrated once again at the Geneva conference. The European Union’s commitment last month to provide 1.2 billion euros over four years is proof of this, to help the country through both emergency aid and long-term assistance that will support modernization and sustainable democratic development, including the fight against corruption and institution building, while helping to improve the daily lives of Afghans, particularly by reducing poverty. But this support is not blind and will not be unconditional, conditions that must be met if the democratic gains of the past twenty years are to be respected.

In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to reiterate that peace must not be achieved at any price. The fight against impunity is absolutely essential for those who commit crimes. The protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel, must be an absolute priority, and all parties must respect their obligations, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Thank you.