Unity govt best option, Kubis tells UNSC

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): The current impasse over results from presidential elections has deepened the political crisis in Afghanistan, taking a heavy political, security and economic toll, a UN diplomat told the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday.

“There is quite simply no better way forward other than a government of national unity led by an elected president, as certified by the Independent Electoral Commission, working in partnership with the new Chief Executive Officer,” he said.

Secretary-General’s Special Representative Jan Kubis, briefing members of the UN Security Council, said other options posed excessive risk and could undermine the country’s constitution — a concern shared by many. 

“Both candidates have agreed on the idea of a unity government in principle, but talks on its modalities were more difficult. Negotiations should be resolved quickly to ensure a legitimate, broadly accepted transition,” Kubis said.

The prevailing political stalemate dominated the proceedings of the quarterly debate of the 15-membered body on Afghanistan. The progress made by Afghanistan in the past one decade hanged in balance, US Ambassador Samantha Power said.

She added the candidates had been willing to stay at the table and work toward a compromise that would avoid the kind of divisions that could undermine Afghanistan’s advancements toward greater stability.

Both had openly expressed their commitment to putting Afghanistan’s future. “Our message to them today is to persevere in that effort and forge a durable compromise,” Power remarked.

Expressing concern over the situation, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on the presidential runners to resolve the matter and form a national unity government through peaceful means, underlining the internal nature of the problem.

Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom called on the Security Council to send a firm message to Dr Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani to act in the best interests of the Afghan people and facilitate the formation of a unity government. 

Wang Min of China hoped the national actors would engage in dialogue. He welcomed international and regional support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process. International initiatives, he stressed, must take into account the wishes of the countries in its region. 

Indian Ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji urged the candidates not to forget the threats that voters braved in order to turn out in large numbers to express support for democracy and the progress of the past 13 years. 

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