Boucher Reports on Afghan Reconstruction Needs

(Meetings in Washington and Islamabad on post-war Afghanistan, Nov 20)
(3230)


Briefing reporters hours after Secretary Powell opened the Working
Session on Reconstruction of Afghanistan, State Department Spokesman
Richard Boucher said the conference was "a first step in organizing
reconstruction efforts", intended to define the critical needs for
rebuilding Afghanistan and offer the Afghans a vision of a better
future.


The November 20 session is being hosted in Washington by Secretary
Powell and Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the special representative of Japanese
Prime Minister Koizumi. Officials from about a dozen countries, as
well as international organizations are discussing Afghanistan's most
pressing post-war needs, such as agriculture, energy, water,
education, including the re-employment of female teachers, and mine
clearance.


"The tremendous scope of this task means that there are going to be
many countries, many international institutions involved, and there's
going to have to be an orderly process for getting there. So this
meeting is to kick off that process," he said.


Subsequently, Boucher said, the World Bank, the Asian Development
Bank, and the U.N. Development Program will convene a more technical
discussion in Islamabad next week. "In that meeting they will begin to
work even more on a very detailed needs assessment that eventually
will result in looking for funding."


Although Boucher had no estimates on the cost of reconstruction, he
reminded reporters of the breadth and generosity of the international
community's contributions towards Afghanistan's current humanitarian
needs.


Turning to the enhanced pace of international humanitarian food relief
efforts, Boucher noted that World Food Program trucks are moving back
into Afghanistan for the first time in a week, from Peshar to
Jalalabad and the World Food Program's international staff is going
back into Afghanistan.


"There's an enormous amount being done for the immediate needs of the
winter. But part of that, that has to lead to -- that has to
transition into a longer-term effort," Boucher reiterated.


Noting political developments affecting the future Afghanistan,
Boucher said the United States welcomes U.N.-organized meetings with
Afghan factions interested in forming a broad-based government in
place of Taliban rule. Meetings are scheduled to begin this weekend
near Berlin.


"As far as the United States, we'll be there. We certainly welcome
this process and want to support this process. We do work closely with
the United Nations, and in fact, Ambassador Haass is in touch with Mr.
Brahimi several times a day," Boucher said.


(begin excerpt)



QUESTION: This morning, the Reconstruction Conference opened here, but
I understand that there's now going to be one -- the next one is
already planned for Islamabad next week; is that correct?


MR. BOUCHER: That's right. Let me go through this as much as I can for
you all. The meeting today brings together a lot of potential donors
and the people who are going to need to be involved in planning for
the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is intended to begin organizing
the international community in support of proceeding with the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, and to offer Afghans
a vision of a better future.


The tremendous scope of this task means that there are going to be
many countries, many international institutions involved and there is
going to have to be an orderly process for getting there. So this
meeting is to kick off that process.


We will hear reports this morning from the UN Development Program,
from the World Bank. I guess you would say there are initial reports
of what they consider to be Afghanistan's needs. And that will let the
potential donors focused on planning in more detail in the future on
how they could meet those needs and what kinds and the amounts and the
types of assistance that will be needed to reconstruct the country.
The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the UN Development
Program will then convene a more technical discussion in Islamabad
next week and that meeting, they will begin to work even more on a
very detailed needs assessment that eventually will result in looking
for funding.


QUESTION: When does the process get to the point where you -- as the
Secretary said -- where you put out the hat?


MR. BOUCHER: After the real definition of needs and amounts is done.
You have to know what you will need to do. You have to figure out what
you need to do, you have to figure out how much it is going to cost
and then you have to ask for money, okay? This is the beginning of the
process figuring out what we need to do. The World Bank assessments,
as they go forward will come to define more -- once they define what
needs to be done, how much is it going to cost and then we'll get the
money. What's clear is there is a lot of support in the international
community for this, a lot of people who intend to support the
reconstruction of Afghanistan, and I think today's meeting and the
meeting next week are clear signals of that.


Second of all, let me remind you that there is a massive humanitarian
effort under way to take care of the immediate needs of the people of
Afghanistan. And what we are talking about planning for here is the
reconstruction of a country that has been destroyed by many years of
devastation and that's a process that will proceed over a longer term.


QUESTION: That's what I'm getting at. Is the Islamabad -- are you
expecting to have a firmer idea of the dollar figures needed for the
longer term? And I wasn't trying to suggest that this is moving too
slowly. I was only trying to figure out when exactly the actual
amounts needed is -- when that's going to become clearer. Do you think
that might happen at the meeting in Islamabad?


MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't think that will happen in Islamabad, because
the Islamabad meeting is to focus more technically. Today, you might
say, this is what needs to be done in general terms. Islamabad will
start looking more technically. If people agree that roads need to be
built, they will look at what roads need to be built, and that kind of
thing. But that then leads to an assessment process that will result
in quite detailed planning and then an estimate of the costs.


QUESTION: I'm not trying to suggest anything either. But I am having
trouble juxtaposing the Secretary's plaintive appeal for quick action,
how urgent it is, winter is approaching. And, you know, if you'll
forgive me, there are other ways to go at this to have a quick fix and
then plan long-term aid. And the US is -- is contributing a huge sum
of money. I guess the question is, if it's so urgent, do you need all
this exquisite planning? Shouldn't more be done right away?


MR. BOUCHER: As I just mentioned two minutes ago -- maybe you weren't
here yet -- but there is extensive assistance being done in the
humanitarian area. We've got trucks moving. We've got trucks moving
back into Afghanistan for the first time in a week from Peshawar to
Jalalabad. There are six trucks that have gone over, arrived safely.
The World Food Program is sending 48 more trucks today. There is a lot
more movement, there is a lot being done. The World Bank staff, the
World Food Program's female staff that used to work for them is back
on board working again for them in normal program activities. So there
is a tremendous amount being done. The World Food Program has got
international staff going back into Afghanistan. There's an enormous
amount being done for the immediate needs of the winter. But that has
to transition into a longer-term effort. There will be things that can
be done earlier in that effort. There will be needs perhaps identified
through this process, where we can use the food assistance to help
build roads. There is a natural transition in this process that can
take place, and things can be done quickly. In addition to feeding the
people who desperately need the food, as the needs are identified,
some of the things can be done sooner rather than later.


QUESTION: Can you say who will be attending the UN talks for the
United States in Berlin? And are there any people who haven't been
invited yet that -- or who aren't planning to attend that you would
like to attend? If you see what I mean.


MR. BOUCHER:  No, I don't see what you mean.



QUESTION:  Well, are there any --



MR. BOUCHER: First of all, we're assuming that all the major Afghan
leaders, groups, factions will be represented there, and we think it's
important that, as a result of the talks the UN is having, as a result
of the talks that Ambassador Dobbins had in Tashkent, and then in
Bagram Airfield, the Northern Alliance has made it clear that they
intend to participate in this process to form a broad-based government
in Afghanistan. We certainly welcome the meeting that will take place
in Germany, I guess starting over the weekend, or starting by Monday.


As far as the United States, we'll be there. We certainly welcome this
process and want to support this process. We do work closely with the
United Nations, and in fact, Ambassador Haass is in touch with Mr.
Brahimi several times a day, actually.


As far as who will go to Germany over the weekend, certainly
Ambassador Dobbins will be there, probably, possibly Ambassador Haass
as well, and others. So we don't know for sure, but that's generally
the kind of people we'd intend to send.


QUESTION: Just back to reconstructing Afghanistan for a second. In
this forum, will there be an appeal to other countries to contribute
to just the relief effort, which has been primarily American now?


MR. BOUCHER:  This is a reconstruction conference.



QUESTION:  Right, but --



MR. BOUCHER: Remember, the UN identified $580 million worth of needs
for relief in Afghanistan. That was oversubscribed by considerable
amounts. The United States put up $320 million. If I remember
correctly, there was a slightly larger than that amount pledged by
other countries. So other countries are pledged to give very
significant amounts to the relief effort, and I think that is an
indicator of what we would hope to see in the future, that everybody
will be there to support reconstruction as well.


QUESTION: Can I ask you about the Northern Alliance's statement that
this is merely a symbolic meeting? Does that suggest -- MR. BOUCHER:
I'm sorry; we just talked about three different meetings. Which --


QUESTION: I'm sorry, I beg your pardon. Not the humanitarian meeting,
the Berlin meeting, the post-planning for diverse whatever -- whatever
you call it. It sounds like they're not enthusiastic about it. They
backed away from insisting on Kabul. But they say it's only a symbolic
meeting.


MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen any particular quotes like that, Barry, so
I am not going to take two words out of context for that. What we have
found in our meetings and in their public statements is that they have
agreed and supported the idea of forming a broad-based government for
Afghanistan, that we would hope this meeting in Berlin or near Berlin
would register progress toward the creation of an interim political
authority, interim political arrangement that leads to that kind of
broad-based government for Afghanistan. So we think it's a useful
meeting.


Clearly, all the parties have said that we want the process to move
back to Afghanistan as soon as the parties can move back to
Afghanistan and continue the work.


QUESTION: Let me ask three very, very quick questions all kind of
related to the same thing: Dobbins, Haass and the King. One, is the --
does the United States believe that the former King -- sorry, Zahir
Shah, is he an adequate representative for the Pashtuns at the meeting
in Berlin? And then, two, Ambassador Haass apparently is going to
India in the beginning of December. Can you say why? And number three,
over the weekend, the Secretary referred to Ambassador Dobbins as the
ambassador to the Northern Alliance at one point. Was that a slip of
the tongue, because that would seem to imply diplomatic recognition.
Is he still the special envoy -- special representative to the Afghan
opposition?


MR. BOUCHER: Yes, of which the Northern Alliance is part. So he is --


QUESTION:  But he is not ambassador --



MR. BOUCHER: He is our guy to meet with the Northern Alliance. He is
an ambassador. He is our man who meets with the Northern Alliance in
the field. And that's as accurate a description of some of his
activities as anything.


Now, moving backwards --



QUESTION:  But his title hasn't changed?



MR. BOUCHER: No, his title hasn't changed. Moving backwards slowly,
because I'm trying to remember -- Haass in India, I will have to check
on.


QUESTION:  The King representing the Northern Alliance, is he --



MR. BOUCHER: My understanding, I was watching Mr. Vendrell on
television this morning, and he was talking about quite a number of
other Pashtuns who we expect to be there. The King, and the people who
have been working with them in this group are indeed Pashtun leaders
as well. So I would expect that there will be others in addition to
them that would be there. But, as you know, we are encouraging
everybody to participate and the United Nations will be working on the
participation in the meeting.


QUESTION: There are reports, I think mostly out of London, of some
concerns between the British and Americans regarding the behavior of
the Northern Alliance around the Bagram Airport, reports that they
were not welcoming British troops coming in working on humanitarian
aid, had asked them to leave. What can you tell us about that and what
the United States is conveying I guess again and again to the Northern
Alliance, that they are not yet the government of the new Afghanistan
and they shouldn't be treating their allies this way.


MR. BOUCHER: Are you referring to brand new reports or the reports
from the other days, because there were sort of reports like that a
couple days ago and then I think the Northern Alliance said that they
didn't object to us; they just wanted to talk about it. I assume that
people have been talking about it. You can get probably a better
update from the British than anybody on that.


QUESTION: Have the British expressed concerns to you or
dissatisfaction to you with perhaps the message that --


MR. BOUCHER: As far as military deployments, really, I would leave it
to the military, and I am sure we are coordinating very, very closely
with the military on that.


QUESTION: No, I am talking about diplomatically, are they discussing
that with us?


MR. BOUCHER: As far as military deployments go, we are coordinating
with the British, I'm sure. But I don't have anything new on that
front. As far as I know, nobody has really objected to those things.


QUESTION: Richard, one gets the impression that the Northern Alliance
have been very grudging about yielding any ground on issues such as
power sharing and a number of issues. And you are not lending any
credence whatsoever to that, is that --


MR. BOUCHER: I don't think it is something to make a big deal of,
frankly. I would say if you look at the behavior of the Northern
Alliance, I know there were a lot of fears, I know there were a lot of
concerns, I know there were a lot of concerns, I know there were a lot
of people who thought events moved very, very quickly and that the
rest of the political organization didn't catch up. But I think the
history of this is quite clear. Before Kabul fell, they formed an
arrangement with the former King to try to work on a broad-based
government. We initially felt that they shouldn't try to go into
Kabul, but events moved so quickly that they did. But they have still
left the bulk of their forces outside. And they seemed to have
provided security, and based on all the news reports that I see, it
appears that life in Kabul is returning to normal, pre-Taliban normal,
and that people are able to do things, live comfortably and safely in
the city once again.


The Northern Alliance has agreed to attend these meetings, agreed to
continue working on a broad-based government. So obviously we judge
people by their behavior, but things seem to be moving in a direction
that was set towards a broad-based government, and so far that's the
way things have proceeded.


QUESTION: But what do you think about Rabbani saying that he is still
president, especially as we recognized him as president all these
years? Doesn't that put us in a quandary if we don't want him declared
president automatically now?


MR. BOUCHER:  No.



QUESTION:  Why not?



MR. BOUCHER: Because Ambassador Dobbins and others have met with Mr.
Rabbani and the whole leadership of the Northern Alliance. That was
the meeting that we had yesterday at Bagram Airport. And all those
people, including Mr. Rabbani, have made quite clear that they intend
to participate in this process to create a broad-based government for
Afghanistan, and that a whole variety of Afghan leaders will be there,
and they intend to work with them.


QUESTION:  Do we not consider him president in this interim time?



MR. BOUCHER: I'll get you the specific sort of formal guidance on
recognition if I can.


QUESTION:  Thank you.



QUESTION: Richard, this morning, Secretary Powell and the other two
speakers who kicked off the conference all took great pains to mention
the role of women in Afghanistan, and the role women should play and
ought to play and deserve to play in reconstruction and the rebuilding
of Afghanistan.


Has Ambassador Dobbins raised this in his talks with any of the
groups? And if so, what has the response been from groups he has
raised it with?


MR. BOUCHER: Let's just say, the United States has raised this. I
don't quite remember which meetings it's been raised in. But the
United States has certainly made this point in our diplomatic
discussions and our meetings with Afghan faction leaders, and our
meetings with Afghan representatives. The importance that we attach to
seeing women participate in the political process, participate in the
reconstruction process, and participate in the future life of
Afghanistan. One would say it's sort of a basic part of "broad-based,"
to have all segments of society represented, and that includes two
genders.


But this is an issue that we have raised, and I think we found some
receptivity to that.


QUESTION: Can we assume then that this means that if the future Afghan
government chooses to exclude women from power, there will be
consequences?


MR. BOUCHER: I would say this means that you can assume that the
United States will continue to promote the idea that women have to be
involved in all aspects of Afghan life, and that we see that as
essential to the creation of a broad-based government.


(end excerpt)



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