Eide calls for three weeks of peace in Afghanistan

In 2008 Kai Eide (fourth from right), Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), opened a newly constructed mission field office for the crucial role of the coordination of development efforts in Baghlan, Afghanistan. UN Photo/Sayed Mirwais Rahimi.

The U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan called for three weeks of peace in the nation as part of an international campaign through Sept. 21.

Kai Eide, the U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan, teamed up with Afghan celebrities and civil organizations to kick off the “What Are You Doing for Peace in Afghanistan” campaign that ends on International Peace Day Sept. 21. “There is a huge demand for peace,” he said. “I call on all to take part in this campaign.”

The campaigns in 2007 and 2008 brought thousands of Afghan groups and international celebrities to commemorate the event, which coincided with a national polio vaccination campaign. This year’s campaign will feature numerous initiatives in support of peace by individual citizens and groups plus a polio immunization drive that will aim to reach millions of children in some of the most insecure areas in the country.

Urges international community to step up

On Sept 3 Eide said “the international community has wasted years in Afghanistan by not coordinating its efforts.” Eide’s criticism comes just ahead of a summit meeting in Paris, where 27 nations will be discussing the situation in Afghanistan, reports the Norway Post.

The summit will probably ask the Afghan authorities themselves to take more responsibility for the rebuilding of the country. In Eide’s opinion, the international community must consentrate its efforts on major tasks which will speed up the Afghan economy, and mentions as one example is the upgrading of the country’s major roads.