Re: Harper at UN, Al Gordon quoted
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Posted by Beth Gorham CP on 19:17:16 2006/09/22
In Reply to:
Re: Listen to Fatah, ..and Hamas' Prime Minister posted by Rank
UN credibility on the line with Afghanistan mission, says Harper
(UN-Cda-Harper) By Beth Gorham
UNITED NATIONS (CP) _ The future of the United Nations depends on a
successful mission in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told
the world body Thursday as he promoted Canada's central role and
appealed for more help.
In his first UN address, Harper said there's no more important test of
the organization's relevance than securing the country, noting the job
is not nearly done and will require far more than military might.
``We have responded. But we haven't made Afghanistan's progress
irreversible. Not yet,'' he said in a 10-minute speech to the General
Assembly where he also bluntly criticized the sluggish pace of change at
the UN.
``If we fail the Afghan people, we will be failing ourselves. For this
is the United Nations' strongest mission and, therefore, our greatest
test.''
``Our collective will and credibility are being judged. It is vital to
the health and future of this organization.''
Canada has no illusions, he said, about how difficult it will be to
provide security and development.
``Let us be realistic. The challenges facing Afghanistan are enormous.''
``There will be no quick fixes...Difficulties don't daunt us. But lack
of common purpose and will in this body would.''
Harper, mindful of critics at home who say he's aligned his foreign
policy too closely with the United States, repeatedly referred to the
Afghan mission as a UN-sponsored effort, not an American one.
There was no mention of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 that diverted
resources from Afghanistan in the anti-terror fight.
And his message seemed designed most of all to appeal to the substantial
number of Canadians who say combat in the dangerous southern part of
Afghanistan is exacting too high a price.
More than two dozen soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan
this year, bringing the total number of Canadians who've died there to
to 37.
``Canadians feel tremendous pride in the leadership role they have
assumed and we share equal grief for the casualties they have taken,''
said Harper, who didn't address Canada's role after the current mission
ends in January 2009.
He also stressed the non-military contributions Canada is making,
including C$1 billion over 10 years in development assistance.
``These two actions _ rebuilding a shattered society and providing a
stable security environment _ go hand in glove,'' said Harper, who's
meeting Friday in Ottawa with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
``And we are making progress...five million refugees repatriated, over
five million children enrolled in primary schools, 10 million Afghans
registered to vote in successive democratic elections.''
While Harper was speaking, Foreign Affairs Minister **>Peter MacKay<**
was trying to drum up more military support at a meeting of NATO foreign
ministers at a nearby Manhattan hotel.
NATO appealed earlier this month for allied governments to provide up to
2,500 extra troops to help conquer Taliban forces across southern
Afghanistan, the centre of the opium trade where violence has surged.
MacKay said he's optimistic allies will commit but wouldn't say for sure
before they announce their decisions.
Romania agreed Wednesday to send a battalion in October and Britain is
adding to its forces. Poland had previously said it would send a
battalion and some special operations forces in January.
Before his speech, Harper met for 20 minutes with outgoing UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan.
Canadian officials said the two talked about a host of hot spots but
Annan did not ask more from Canada.
``He expressed great appreciation for what Canada is already doing,''
said John McNee, Canada's new ambassador to the UN.
But the friendly meeting didn't stop Harper from pointedly criticizing
slow management reforms at the UN and expressing worry a new Human
Rights Council will dissolve into the political morass of its
predecessor, where countries with bad records sought seats to shield
themselves.
The UN still isn't accountable or effective enough, he said, citing his
own government's reforms to ensure Canadian taxpayers receive full value
for their money.
People deserve the same assurances from the UN, he said.
Harper also mentioned briefly some other major challenges facing the UN,
including turmoil in Haiti, the Darfur region of Sudan and Lebanon. And
he suggested the time for getting tough with Iran over its nuclear
ambitions is getting close.
But his focus was almost solely on Afghanistan, a major test for his
minority government. New Democrats want Canada to pull its 2,200
soldiers from the country, mostly in Kandahar province, and the Bloc
Quebecois is demanding a parliamentary debate.
There are some 20,000 NATO troops and 21,000 U.S. troops in the country.
Most of the NATO forces are involved in peacekeeping and reconstruction
efforts in the north and west. Since July, about 8,000 soldiers, mostly
from Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States, have pushed
south.
In Ottawa, Liberal MP Keith Martin called on the Conservative government
to open a dialogue with Pakistan and other South Asian countries, saying
it's the only way to stop the insurgency from building in southern
Afghanistan.
Many observers believe the Taliban are continuing to recruit fighters
from western Pakistan to attack Canadian and other NATO soldiers in the
region.
Martin and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe also lamented Harper's failure to
use the UN forum to focus attention on the plight of Africa,
particularly refugees in Darfur as well as poverty and AIDS victims
across the continent.
``I think what we wanted was a clear overall (foreign) policy and not
just a justification of the war in Afghanistan,'' Duceppe said.
But Alastair Gordon at the Canadian Coalition for Democracies in Ottawa,
said he thought Harper spoke with a ``constructive candour''
that hasn't been heard from a Canadian leader in a long time.
``Canada is now a credible player on the world stage after years of
decline.''
INDEX: POLITICS INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE
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