At Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, Director of OSCE Secretary General’s Office Paul Bekkers emphasizes central role of regional organizations’ support for Afghanistan stability

“Stability in Afghanistan remains of utmost significance to, and inseparable from the security of the Eurasian continent,” stressed Paul Bekkers, Director of the OSCE Secretary General’s Office at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 5 October 2016.

Bekkers stated that the role of the OSCE in assisting Afghanistan state-building process lies precisely in the area of political support at the regional level that, as stated in the final Communique of this year’s Brussels Conference, needs to underpin the development and security of Afghanistan. 

Since Afghanistan became an OSCE Partner for Co-operation in 2003, the Organization has built and expanded with the country a relationship that today focuses on three main areas: border management, with expert-level training for border and customs at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan; education and capacity building - one of the UN Sustainable Goals and a key area of the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework for 2017-2021 -  through training of Afghan students at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and young Afghan diplomats and junior professionals at OSCE headquarters in Vienna; empowerment of women and youth by actively promoting the participation of youth in education projects and involving Afghan high-level female politicians, decision makers and a civil society representatives in OSCE activities in the framework of the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Paul Bekkers noted that “each of the OSCE participating States has a different level of partnership with Afghanistan but we share one common vision: a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, in a stable and prosperous region.”

The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan gathered more than 70 countries and 20 international organizations and agencies on 4-5 October. It provided a platform for the government of Afghanistan to set out its vision and track record on reform, while for the international community, it was the opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to Afghan peace, state-building and development.