NATO HQ, Brussels 2 Nov. 2006

NATO's Afghanistan priorities Interview with NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Daan Everts Background NATO in Afghanistan NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Multimedia Audio file (.MP3/4300kb) Q:  We're here today with Ambassador Daan Everts, NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.  Mister Everts, welcome.  Could you tell us briefly about your tasks as NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan? DAAN EVERTS (NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan): Well, as the name says, I represent NATO which has an enormously important role in Afghanistan and not just military; because the problems of Afghanistan are both military and non-military.  So my particular task is to take care, to cover the non-military dimension of our presence in Afghanistan, of our support mission. Q:  That's a particularly broad mandate.  What are the specific issues that you'll be focussing on in the coming months? EVERTS:  Well, there are lots of issues because Afghanistan is ridden with problems.  Some people call it a "theme park" with problems.  But the ones we are seized with right now are particularly the implementation of national strategies for development and for security.  There is a serious problem in terms of security.  There is a serious problem in terms of delivering goods to people.  And one of my roles is to help prod the government to act faster, more effectively and also help the international community to coordinate its efforts more effectively and with more direct results to be seen and felt by the people. Q:  The built-up of Afghanistan's army and police is a key component of the stabilization process.  Is this on track?  And what's NATO's role? EVERTS:  It's partly on track.  The army is developing very nicely, I'm told by military experts.  The great shortfall is on the police side.  And this is crucial because if you want to address a climate of impunity, lawlessness, you need a credible police, a police that is trusted by people, a people-oriented police, as well a court system that is objective and credible in people's eyes.  Both are still not very well functional.  So on the police and on the courts, we have to triple, at least, our efforts, both the Afghans and the international supporters. Q:  The drug industry and corruption are two other significant challenges.  What is NATO's role in this area? EVERTS:  Well, we don't have a direct role.  But we have an indirect one in the sense that we can... and urge the government to act more decisively here.  There is a very good counter-narcotics strategy.  It has lots of components and it's very well conceived.  The problem is to implement.  The implementation is severely lacking.  And here, also, NATO can lean on the government and use its weight, which we have, to have more effective implementation taking place.  And this means, and this is sensitive, to address also the corruption.  The implementation of counter-narcotic strategies depends on government capacities.  If the government capacities are impaired because of incompetent or corrupt officials then the whole counter-narcotics won't work.  So here, we have to be very specific. Beside a general support, we have to be very specific in asking the government to be more serious about implementing its strategy and removing those who are an obstacle to effective implementation. Q:  Recent media reports claim that the Taliban are using the border with Pakistan to move in and out of Afghanistan.  Is this a problem?  And if so, how can it be addressed? EVERTS:  Well, of course, it's a problem.  There is a cross-border situation that is not well under control on either side.  Don't forget this is a very inaccessible area.  It's very rugged mountains, hardly any regular infrastructure.  So it's very porous.  And we do see, of course, very regular incursions from Pakistan into Afghanistan of a hostile nature.  And that is bad, has to be addressed.  And the question is:  "How?"  Well, we are in contact with the Pakistan government, which itself declares to be aware of the problem and be prepared to tackle it, but there hasn't been too much of practical results.  So we are now right now focussing on is increasing, stepping up the dialogue with the Pakistan authorities in the hope that a more structured, systematic approach will take effect as that effectively the cross-border movements can be stemmed. Q:  What do you believe are the key achievements of NATO in Afghanistan to date? EVERTS:  Well, anyone who has been in Pakistan... I mean in Afghanistan is of course struck by the difference in five years.  I mean, Afghanistan was at the brink of total collapse, implosion.  It was relegated to Middle Ages, basically.  So with the initial victory in 2001 a whole new era has opened which is very tangible to those who were severely repressed before, such as women.  They finally can again go out, aspire education and jobs.   And it is very heartening to see millions of little kids now going to school who were deprived of any basic schooling in the past.  So this is one.  The other is democratization:  there is a freely elected Parliament.  It's rather unusual certainly in that regional context also.  So here we have a democracy at work.  It still has to be reinforced and strengthened.  But the potential is very much there.  This is a major achievement.  In addition, you see infrastructural developments now taking place and gaining pace which no doubt benefit people.  So if we can create more secure conditions for individuals, this proper access to justice and proper law enforcement then I have the feeling that this NATO mission will have done a tremendous contribution to bringing a country from...  basically Middle Ages to if not the twenty-first century, at least the twentieth century.  If I may, in a nutshell, I have never seen a mission, historically speaking, that is so noble by motivation and objective.  And hence, I have no doubt that it will succeed. Q:  My final question:  "How do you gauge the public mood on Afghanistan, particularly in the face of quite intense fighting in the South?" EVERTS:  Well, the public is nervous or is somewhat unnerved, maybe, by the recent escalation of hostilities, particularly because they are of a very cowardly nature.  These are attacks that basically victimize civilians even more than military.  I'm talking about suicide attacks, the explosive devices, road bombs.  They're very indiscriminate, and hence very rejectable.  They're a sign, in a way, of cowardice and of incapacity of the enemy, the Taliban, to convince and persuade people in a normal, democratic fashion.  So fashion are unnerved by the "asymmetric attacks" they're called.  And they are... and that is more a concern to us right now, they are frustrated by lack of effective implementation of the promises that have been made in terms of development, reconstruction, and rule of law.  And here is a signal to us to step up efforts to be more serious, particularly about these deliveries of basics that people need, that they deserve, and that they expect. Q:  Ambassador, thank you for being here with us today.