Brussels, 27/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - "It was a difficult, dangerous but interesting experience". Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Brussels, this was how Klaus-Peter Klauber, EU Special Representative in Afghanistan to be replaced by Spanish national Francesc Vendrell, summarised his six month term of office in Afghanistan. While recognising that progress had been made in Kabul, he stressed the many problems facing the country, especially the authority of the clan chiefs (who prevent centralised control of the country, including tax collection) and the rebuilding of the rest of the country.
"Kabul is alive again, over one million refugees have returned, and peace and stability have been consolidated", explained Mr Klaiber, who welcomed the way the Loya Jirga conference had unfolded. "It was a very good thing for everyone, including the women, to be included and to be able to express their views. However, I would have liked the president to have had greater freedom in choosing the members of his private office", said Mr Klaiber. He also congratulated the Commission which, "more than any other donor, has fulfilled its commitments (…) whereas Japan and the Arab countries have not kept their promises". Furthermore, "for once, the EU represented by ECHO, the Commission and myself spoke with a single voice". The Representative, however, stressed the low turnout of the international community at the elections, the gaps with regards human rights and the development of a legislative system which is needed to create a safe environment for attracting foreign investment that "the country needs", as well as the problem of corruption, a "true political culture".
Mr Klaiber concluded by calling on the international community and especially on the EU to pursue: 1) its financial support of the country; 2) the eradication of opium production; 3) the development of a national military force; 4) the strengthening of the central government; and 5) the development of a policy in this "very volatile" region.