The National Security Sector Reform Symposium was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 30th and 31st of July. The Governmental symposium, sponsored by the Foreign Ministry and the Government of the Netherlands, was designed to discuss various aspects of Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan, in conjunction with lead donor nations, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Security Sector Reform is comprised of a number of key initiatives led by the Government and assisted by more than 30 countries. The five pillars of Security Sector Reform includes: law enforcement and police, counter-narcotics, judicial reform, building of the Afghan National Army, and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR). The attendees included various Cabinet Ministers, Governors, Corps Commanders, Ambassadors from lead nations, Coalition and ISAF Commanders, and UNAMA representatives.

The symposium featured both opening and closing addresses by President Hamid Karzai. During the two-day discussion, there were a series of presentations on each aspect of Security Sector Reform, by the Ministers of Defense and Interior, the National Security Advisor, the Special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Afghanistan, high-ranking members of security sector reform commissions and lead nation Ambassadors.

Following the presentations, there were a series of working groups and plenary sessions in which the interrelationship of the five pillars was freely discussed by the participants. The participants discussed the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of each component. Thoughtful discussion led to a list of recommendations on how to improve security at the local and national levels. Final recommendations were presented to the National Security Advisor, Dr Zalmai Rassoul and the UN’s Special Representative, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, in the closing plenary session. In turn, they presented these recommendations, with closing remarks, to President Karzai.

The President appreciated the outcome of the deliberations, and in his speeches, he stressed the values and responsibilities inherent in Nation and State-building in today’s Afghanistan. The participants, overwhelmingly endorsed the Central Government’s national reform programs in all sectors, and presented a series of practical solutions and recommendations in each sector. Assurances were given by responsible authorities to continue the pace of reforms in the Ministry of Defense and other security institutions.

Recommendations that were presented highlighted key issues of Government policy. The relationship between the Central Government and Provincial and District authorities was discussed at length. Building institutional capacity, providing training and technical assistance were stressed by the working groups. Provincial Governors requested increased solidarity of Government policy and power in order to enforce the rule of law, and make progress in the counter-narcotics strategy, and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programmes. There was unanimous concern that the roles of the Afghan National Army and Police be separated, although both should be national in character, non-factional, professional, equipped and well-trained.

The continued role and assistance provided by the international community was underlined throughout the symposium. President Karzai and other Afghan leaders expressed their gratitude for the efforts and assistances of all lead nations, donor countries and the UN for Afghan security sector reforms, and also to the Netherlands for co-sponsoring this important gathering. This was the first occasion in which Provincial Governors, Army Commanders and members of the central Government were brought together to discuss Security Sector Reform and its relevance to nation-building.

Office of the Spokesperson

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

July 31, 2003, Kabul