Statement by H.E. Dr Abdullah,

Minister for Foreign affairs of the Islamic State of Afghanistan

3^rd UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries - LDC III

Brussels, Belgium, 14-20 May 2001

(Check Against Delivery)

Mr. President,

Seizing the opportunity, I wish to congratulate you on your election to preside over our meeting. I would also like to express, on behalf of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, our appreciation to the European Union, for hosting this conference.

Mr. President,

Despite the first two Action programmes of the 80's and 90's, the number of LDCs has constantly been increasing since the UN established the first list of countries corresponding to this category. The LDCs' issue has to be turned into a major challenge in the coming years.

International economy has gone through radical transformations and is subject to structural changes at an unprecedented extent. While economic and financial globalization brought opportunities to a number of countries, it turned into a real abyss for others.

As far as the LDCs are concerned, the new geo-strategic and geopolitic outline, as a result of the end of the Cold War, is source of tensions, destabilization and conflicts. The latters lead to the weakening of all national institutions.

In the context of global economy, it is necessary to take concrete and suitable measures for the application of the action programme in favor of the LDCs for the 2001-2010 period.

On the national level, efforts have to be consented to reinforce democracy, good governance. The priorities should be defined as far as economic, political and social development is concerned. Production and trading capacity of LDCs should be reinforced, as their economies depend almost entirely on a few limited products. In order to allow them to benefit fully of the liberalization of the exchange of goods and services, as well as of freedom of movement of direct investment. The environment should be preserved in order to achieve sustainable development.

The efforts and commitments have not been maintained. The insertion of these countries in the international economy and trade should be among the top priorities.

This requires better co-ordination of the efforts of all international organizations, particularly within the UN.

As far as Afghanistan is concerned, the country cannot benefit from the mobilization of its material and human resources or from international economic and financial assistance because of the situation of conflict and of the imposed war since more than 20 years, and which is gradually destroying all the political, administrative and economic structures, as well as the historic and cultural vestiges.

This is the reason why we ask Pakistan to stop interfering in Afghanistan's internal affairs through the Taliban. These people do not respect the splendour of our country nor the dignity of the Afghan people.

This on-going situation is a threat to regional and international peace and security. This is why we appeal to the international community and to the United Nations to support us in our efforts for peace, dialogue and negotiation, on national and international levels and to help the Afghan people materially. The population is hit by misery, famine and forced displacements inside and outside the country. The issue has been mentioned recently by His Excellency the Vice-President Ahmad Shah Massoud here in Brussels, and also in Paris and in Strasbourg at the European Parliament.

We appeal solemnly to the sense of responsibility and solidarity of all the members of the big family of nations gathered here for the third UN Conference on the LDCs.

We believe that the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of the LCDs, which are confronted with armed conflicts, should be among the top priorities of the International Organizations and donor countries.

Woman's role in peaceful conflict resolution as well as their determinant position in the reconstruction of the countries at the end of the war should find their natural prolongation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction plans and projects.

I call upon the Secretary-General of the UNCTAD to undertake a thorough reflexion concerning the issue of rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of the war-torn LDCs in, first place, my country Afghanistan and to prepare recommendations and suggestions that we all need so much.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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