Declaration of the Special Conference on Afghanistan Convened under the Auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Moscow Declaration)

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Country/entity: Afghanistan
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Declaration of the Special Conference on Afghanistan Convened under the Auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Moscow Declaration)
Date: 27 Mar 2009
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Afghan Wars (1979 - )
The agreements are drawn from two distinct conflict periods. Post Soviet-intervention period. First, after an uprising against the communist government, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 and set up a puppet government. Fierce resistance came in on the form of domestic and foreign Mujahidin fighters who, by 1988, forced the Soviet Union to withdraw. The Communist government that remained was defeated in 1992 against a background of violence, which spiralled into a tumultuous multi-party civil war with a strong tribal basis. In 1993 a peace accord was signed, but by 1994 the conflict realigned itself as the Islamic-based Taliban emerged from the refugee camps, eventually occupying the capital city of Kabul in September 1996 spurring groups that had militantly opposed the communist government to unite in opposition to the Taliban.

Post US-intervention period. After the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan and removed the Taliban from power. In December 2001, the UNSC mandated the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to assist Afghanistan’s interim authorities. In 2003 ISAF command was placed under NATO’s responsibility. Within three years, however, the Taliban managed to re-group and re-structure and launched intense resistance to the internationally-recognized Afghanistan government and NATO support troops. Despite this resurgence of the Taliban, NATO leaders lacked the necessary support for the mission abroad, and NATO troops were withdrawn by the end of 2014.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Afghanistan: 2000s Post-intervention process
Parties: Not signed, agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States (Kazakshtan, China, Kyrgyztan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Third parties: -
Description: This short agreement contains commitments primarily to tackle the narcotics trade and terrorism in Afghanistan, including co-operation between Afghanistan and Pakistan on these issues.

Agreement document: AF_090327_MoscowDeclaration.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, Paragraph 2
Recognized the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan and the region and underscored the importance of sustained international efforts to achieve a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: Page 1, Paragraph 2
Recognized the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan and the region and underscored the importance of sustained international efforts to achieve a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 2, Paragraph 2
Expressed conviction that the successful combat against terrorism, production and trafficking of narcotics and organized crime in Afghanistan and the region requires a due combination of enforcement and administrative methods, accompanied by targeted social and economic programs;
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 2, Paragraph 5
Supported transregional projects, aimed at comprehensive regional development, in particular construction of a united infrastructure network and energy corridor, transportation and transit, with consideration of activities of relevant regional organizations.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2, Paragraph 4
Welcomed the initiative of G8 to facilitate development projects aimed at social and economic development in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the context of cooperation with all neighboring States, as well as the enhancement of counter-narcotics' regional dimension by reaching out, at the next G8 meeting on June 26 and 27, 2009 in Trieste, to the interested Countries and relevant Organizations; and in the same vein, commended the Ankara Trilateral Summit Process;
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Paragraph 4
Acknowledged the important role of the International Security Assistance Force and coalition forces to help the Government of Afghanistan provide security to Afghanistan and, in that regard, welcomed the measures adopted by international forces, in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure closer coordination of operations with Afghan authorities, which inter alia is of special significance for increasing effectiveness of counteracting illegal production and drug trafficking;
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 2, Paragraph 2
...
Underlined the need for sustained joint efforts to train Afghan experts in the field of countering drug trafficking, customs service and police;
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: Page 1, Paragraph 1
The participants in the Conference welcomed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiative to organize this forum, expressed their satisfaction with results and noted that the outcome was in line with the efforts of the international community, namely the United Nations, North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization of Islamic Conference and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, other international and regional organizations and individual states to counteract threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crimes.

Page 1, Paragraph 3
Emphasized the need for sustained international support to strengthen Afghan security institutions to effectively combat the scourge of terrorism and production and trafficking of narcotics;

Page 1, Paragraph 4
Acknowledged the important role of the International Security Assistance Force and coalition forces to help the Government of Afghanistan provide security to Afghanistan and, in that regard, welcomed the measures adopted by international forces, in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure closer coordination of operations with Afghan authorities, which inter alia is of special significance for increasing effectiveness of counteracting illegal production and drug trafficking;

Page 1, Paragraph 5
Acknowledged the progress of the Afghan Government in reducing the cultivation of poppy, despite limited resources at its disposal, and stressed the need for enhanced regional and international efforts to combat narcotics effectively and resolutely, including provision of alternative means of livelihood for farmers through development of regional markets and transit arrangements, international support for law enforcement and criminal justice agencies of Afghanistan, elimination of drug-laboratories, strengthening anti-narcotics control to curb the flow of precursors and reducing demand and consumption;

Page 1, Paragraph 6
Stressed the importance of concerted and combined efforts in the region to counter terrorism, illicit narcotics and organized crime , in particular coordination and cooperation of Afghanistan and its neighbours.

Page 2, Paragraph 2
Expressed conviction that the successful combat against terrorism, production and trafficking of narcotics and organized crime in Afghanistan and the region requires a due combination of enforcement and administrative methods, accompanied by targeted social and economic programs; Underlined the need for sustained joint efforts to train Afghan experts in the field of countering drug trafficking, customs service and police;

Page 2, Paragraph 3
Called for a full operationalization of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) as an important tool in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;

Page 2, Paragraph 6
Noted that the SCO was one of the appropriate fora for a wide dialogue with participation of partners on the Afghanistan-related issues in the context of joint efforts of the international community and Afghanistan and for practical interaction between Afghanistan and its neighboring states in combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime;

Page 2, Paragraph 8
Considered the view contained in the Statement and Plan of Action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and expressed the intent to explore the possibility of aiding their implementation.
Drugs: Page 1, Paragraph 1
The participants in the Conference welcomed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiative to organize this forum, expressed their satisfaction with results and noted that the outcome was in line with the efforts of the international community, namely the United Nations, North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization of Islamic Conference and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, other international and regional organizations and individual states to counteract threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crimes.

Page 1, Paragraph 3
Emphasized the need for sustained international support to strengthen Afghan security institutions to effectively combat the scourge of terrorism and production and trafficking of narcotics;

Page 1, Paragraph 4
Acknowledged the important role of the International Security Assistance Force and coalition forces to help the Government of Afghanistan provide security to Afghanistan and, in that regard, welcomed the measures adopted by international forces, in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure closer coordination of operations with Afghan authorities, which inter alia is of special significance for increasing effectiveness of counteracting illegal production and drug trafficking;

Page 1, Paragraph 5
Acknowledged the progress of the Afghan Government in reducing the cultivation of poppy, despite limited resources at its disposal, and stressed the need for enhanced regional and international efforts to combat narcotics effectively and resolutely, including provision of alternative means of livelihood for farmers through development of regional markets and transit arrangements, international support for law enforcement and criminal justice agencies of Afghanistan, elimination of drug-laboratories, strengthening anti-narcotics control to curb the flow of precursors and reducing demand and consumption;

Page 1, Paragraph 6
Stressed the importance of concerted and combined efforts in the region to counter terrorism, illicit narcotics and organized crime , in particular coordination and cooperation of Afghanistan and its neighbours.

Page 2, Paragraph 2
Expressed conviction that the successful combat against terrorism, production and trafficking of narcotics and organized crime in Afghanistan and the region requires a due combination of enforcement and administrative methods, accompanied by targeted social and economic programs; Underlined the need for sustained joint efforts to train Afghan experts in the field of countering drug trafficking, customs service and police;

Page 2, Paragraph 3
Called for a full operationalization of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) as an important tool in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;

Page 2, Paragraph 6
Noted that the SCO was one of the appropriate fora for a wide dialogue with participation of partners on the Afghanistan-related issues in the context of joint efforts of the international community and Afghanistan and for practical interaction between Afghanistan and its neighboring states in combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime;

Page 2, Paragraph 8
Considered the view contained in the Statement and Plan of Action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and expressed the intent to explore the possibility of aiding their implementation.
Terrorism: Page 1, Paragraph 1
The participants in the Conference welcomed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiative to organize this forum, expressed their satisfaction with results and noted that the outcome was in line with the efforts of the international community, namely the United Nations, North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization of Islamic Conference and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, other international and regional organizations and individual states to counteract threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crimes.

Page 1, Paragraph 3
Emphasized the need for sustained international support to strengthen Afghan security institutions to effectively combat the scourge of terrorism and production and trafficking of narcotics;

Page 1, Paragraph 6
Stressed the importance of concerted and combined efforts in the region to counter terrorism, illicit narcotics and organized crime, in particular coordination and cooperation of Afghanistan and its neighbours.

Page 2, Paragraph 1
Were encouraged by growing dialogue between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan aimed at strengthening of mutual trust, as well as by the Joint Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation, signed on January 6, 2009 in Kabul, and at finding effective means to combat the menace of terrorism, including denying sanctuaries and dismantling the extremist and terrorist network and ideological centers;

Page 2, Paragraph 2
Expressed conviction that the successful combat against terrorism, production and trafficking of narcotics and organized crime in Afghanistan and the region requires a due combination of enforcement and administrative methods, accompanied by targeted social and economic programs;

Page 2, Paragraph 6
Noted that the SCO was one of the appropriate fora for a wide dialogue with participation of partners on the Afghanistan-related issues in the context of joint efforts of the international community and Afghanistan and for practical interaction between Afghanistan and its neighboring states in combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime;

Page 2, Paragraph 8
Considered the view contained in the Statement and Plan of Action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and expressed the intent to explore the possibility of aiding their implementation.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker
http://peacemaker.un.org/
http://peacemaker.un.org/node/1817

Declaration of the Special Conference on Afghanistan Convened under the Auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Moscow Declaration

Moscow, 27 March 2009

The participants in the Conference welcomed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiative to organize this forum, expressed their satisfaction with results and noted that the outcome was in line with the efforts of the international community, namely the United Nations, North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization of Islamic Conference and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, other international and regional organizations and individual states to counteract threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crimes.

The participants also

Recognized the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan and the region and underscored the importance of sustained international efforts to achieve a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan and stressed that such assistance should be comprehensive under the leadership of Afghanistan and the central role of the UN in coordinating international assistance and based on strict adherence of the UN Charter;

Emphasized the need for sustained international support to strengthen Afghan security institutions to effectively combat the scourge of terrorism and production and trafficking of narcotics;

Acknowledged the important role of the International Security Assistance Force and coalition forces to help the Government of Afghanistan provide security to Afghanistan and, in that regard, welcomed the measures adopted by international forces, in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure closer coordination of operations with Afghan authorities, which inter alia is of special significance for increasing effectiveness of counteracting illegal production and drug trafficking;

Acknowledged the progress of the Afghan Government in reducing the cultivation of poppy, despite limited resources at its disposal, and stressed the need for enhanced regional and international efforts to combat narcotics effectively and resolutely, including provision of alternative means of livelihood for farmers through development of regional markets and transit arrangements, international support for law enforcement and criminal justice agencies of Afghanistan, elimination of drug-laboratories, strengthening anti-narcotics control to curb the flow of precursors and reducing demand and consumption;

Stressed the importance of concerted and combined efforts in the region to counter terrorism, illicit narcotics and organized crime, in particular coordination and cooperation of Afghanistan and its neighbours.

Were encouraged by growing dialogue between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan aimed at strengthening of mutual trust, as well as by the Joint Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation, signed on January 6, 2009 in Kabul, and at finding effective means to combat the menace of terrorism, including denying sanctuaries and dismantling the extremist and terrorist network and ideological centers;

Expressed conviction that the successful combat against terrorism, production and trafficking of narcotics and organized crime in Afghanistan and the region requires a due combination of enforcement and administrative methods, accompanied by targeted social and economic programs;

Underlined the need for sustained joint efforts to train Afghan experts in the field of countering drug trafficking, customs service and police;

Called for a full operationalization of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) as an important tool in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;

Welcomed the initiative of G8 to facilitate development projects aimed at social and economic development in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the context of cooperation with all neighboring States, as well as the enhancement of counter-narcotics' regional dimension by reaching out, at the next G8 meeting on June 26 and 27, 2009 in Trieste, to the interested Countries and relevant Organizations;

and in the same vein, commended the Ankara Trilateral Summit Process;

Supported transregional projects, aimed at comprehensive regional development, in particular construction of a united infrastructure network and energy corridor, transportation and transit, with consideration of activities of relevant regional organizations.

Noted that the SCO was one of the appropriate fora for a wide dialogue with participation of partners on the Afghanistan-related issues in the context of joint efforts of the international community and Afghanistan and for practical interaction between Afghanistan and its neighboring states in combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime;

Supported the need for close cooperation and coordination among international and regional organizations under UN coordination, in particular through United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in joint response to those threats and challenges, and in this regard welcomed adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1868 on March 23, 2009;

Considered the view contained in the Statement and Plan of Action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and expressed the intent to explore the possibility of aiding their implementation.