President Ashraf Ghani delivered a statement at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) underscoring the important role of multilateralism, and particularly the UN, in addressing the challenges that continue to impact Afghanistan and the world.
Speaking virtually on Monday night, Ghani said, “The United Nations that we need is an organization with the authorities, capabilities, capitals, and commitments to fulfil the purposes and principles of this charter.”
He also highlighted Afghanistan’s geopolitical importance within Asia.
“Afghanistan is a country positioned right at the heart of Asia, right at the heart of untapped potential that could bring prosperity and peace to our region. But this means that we are also right in the middle of the turmoil that is affecting us all today.”
He then highlighted the five “drivers of turmoil” affecting Afghanistan simultaneously: he Coronavirus pandemic, unconventional warfare, global terrorism, climate change and an unprecedented explosion of inequality.
“Though we are facing multiple drivers of turmoil all at once in Afghanistan, there is a clear and urgent priority for us: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress,” the president said.
He then called on the international community to help Afghans.
“I would like to take this opportunity to call on every member of the General Assembly and the P5 to help us achieve the end state of a sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan at peace with itself in the region.”
“A democratically stable and prosperous Afghanistan of how our collective will can overcome the turmoil and uncertainty that defines our world today,” he added.
The UN is marking this year with the mantra that “multilateralism is not an option but a necessity.”
The anniversary kicked off on Monday at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) which was attended via videoconference.
