Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan
(Outline)

November 27, 2001

1. Title: Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan

2. Date: 20 November (Tues)

3. Venue: Department of State, Washington D.C.

4. Joint Chairs: Japan and the United States

(Opening speeches were given by Secretary of State of the United States Colin Powell, Special Representative of the Prime Minister Sadako Ogata, and Secretary of the Treasury of the United States Paul O'Neil)

5. Attending Countries and Organizations:

(1) Attending countries: G8 countries, the European Union (Chair of the EU the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Commission), Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) (Chair: Qatar), Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, India, Swiss Confederation, Australia, Republic of Finland, Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Norway.

(2) Attending organizations: United Nations (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), etc.), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

6. Results of the Meeting

(1) It was confirmed that the United Nations is playing a central and important role in Afghanistan and should continue to do so in the future, for which United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378 demonstrates a framework.

(2) The commitment of the international community was confirmed for reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan.

(3) It was confirmed that in order to implement reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan it was of the utmost importance to establish a governing authority that would be widely accepted in Afghanistan. From this perspective, attendees welcomed the plan that United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, will convene UN Talks on Afghanistan among the various Afghan groups.

(4) The importance of a seamless connection between humanitarian assistance and reconstruction assistance was confirmed.

(5) The importance of assistance with quick impact results was confirmed. The necessity of the international community to demonstrate its assistance capabilities was stressed.

(6) It was confirmed that the Afghan people themselves should participate in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.

(7) It was confirmed that a coordinated reconstruction assistance plan should be implemented among all parties implementing assistance and support.

(8) The importance of securing the safety of all groups and persons engaged in assistance was confirmed.

(9) The need for flexibility in the implementation of plans by donor countries and aid agencies and organizations was confirmed.

7. Follow-up Structure

(1) As a forum to demonstrate political guidelines, a steering committee will be formed. Japan, the United States, the EU and Saudi Arabia will serve as co-chairs.

(2) In December the first meeting of the Steering Committee will be held in Europe (venue is yet to be decided).

(3) At the end of January 2002, a ministerial-level conference will be convened in Japan.

(4) The World Bank, UNDP and ADB were requested to implement a prompt and comprehensive needs assessment, to be reported at the ministerial conference in Japan in January.

(5) Through the World Bank, UNDP and ADB meeting to be held from 27-29 November, and the Afghanistan Support Group (ASG) meeting to be held from 5-7 December, comprehensive efforts will be enhanced.