EUX.TV, the EU policy channel» Afghanistan

Bin Laden’s death presents stability test for Al Qaeda, says Tora Bora school teacher

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:24:53 +0000

The demise of Osama Bin Laden will present a stability test for Al Qaeda, says Tora Bora school teacher Mina Walli during an interview with EurActiv.com in Brussels. While welcoming the death of Osama Bin Laden, many European countries on Monday heightened security amid fears of retaliatory attacks. despite praising the US government for the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden, EU leaders said his slaying was symbolic and warned that terror cells working in Europe had functioned as separate units and may trigger terrorist attacks in retaliation for his death. EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove described the killing as one step towards reducing the threat of terrorist attacks in the long term, but “maybe the risk increases in the short term because one may expect a retaliation operation”. He said Al-Qaeda had been in general decline over the last decade amid constant hammering from US and NATO-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nonetheless, “Osama bin Laden remains a symbol that continues to encourage groups such as Al-Qaeda in Yemen or the Maghreb, or the individuals we saw in Germany,” he said. Three men believed to be Al-Qaeda operatives were arrested in Germany last week on suspicion of planning a major attack. De Kerchove stressed that police and other security services throughout the EU are on high alert and “even more vigilant than usual”.

Bin Laden’s death presents stability test for Al Qaeda, says Tora Bora school teacher

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:24:53 +0000

Afghan civil society: let us determine our own fate

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:34:32 +0000

The current situation in Afghanistan is the topic of this early morning briefing hosted by the European foundation for democracy. As a struggling young democracy, Afghanistan is still reliant on the presence of foreign powers to maintain rule of law. While military support is crucial, at this juncture it is not only the physical contributions of the international community, but also the intention which is important. Let us, the Afghan people make our own government by ourselves, which the constitution shows the way to do that, and secondly, We must see if the biggest support from the international community, if they are supporting us honestly, if there is honest support for the Afghan people obviously we will achieve a lot. Says Afghan Judge, Hayatullah Ahadyar

Human rights concerns overshadow EU-Uzbek ‘summit’

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:50:26 +0000

José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, on Monday shook hands with Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan, in an unprecedented move to engage with an authoritarian leader who has been in charge since 1990 and stands accused of massive violations of human rights. EurActiv.com reported that A spokesperson for President Barroso underlined that the meeting falls within the scope of the policy of “critical engagement” that EU foreign ministers agreed to pursue as a common approach to Uzbekistan. Karimov was widely condemned following the massacre of hundreds of civilians in 2005 to curb demonstrations against the regime in the eastern city of Andijan. He has also been criticised over the imprisonment of people accused of Islamic extremism. Opposition forces in Uzbekistan are often treated ruthlessly and torture is endemic in Uzbek jails, according to the United Nations. Karimov’s term of office has regularly been renewed with elections and referenda, which have been condemned by local opposition and international observers alike for falling short of basic democratic standards. Nevertheless, Karimov is appreciated in the West for offering key strategic support to the international coalition fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan. Moreover, Uzbekistan’s importance in gas-rich Central Asia has brought about a gradual improvement in relations with the EU since bilateral contacts were frozenin the wake of the Andijan massacre.

Human rights concerns overshadow EU-Uzbek ‘summit’

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:50:26 +0000

EU trains Afghan police to make water bombs

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:21:46 +0000

Water bombs play a strategic role in the training for Afghan police officers that’s provided by the European Union. This exclusive footage shows how EU police officers train their Afghan counterparts in making a water bomb from a piece of paper, using an origami technique. The objective of this training is to demonstrate the importance of the ‘under instruction’ concept. When instructed properly, the entire class of Afghan police officers is able to make a water bomb. But when they have to repeat the process, and make a bomb on their own without instruction, most of them fail to do so. The teaching method makes it evident that training Afghan police officers is very difficult because many of them have not had any significant education and therefore have little understanding for the value of education. The European Union started its police training mission in Afghanistan in June 2007. Canada, Croatia, New Zealand and Norway also take part in the EUPOL training mission. After more than three years, EUPOL Afghanistan is still not able to train the numbers of Afghan police officers that it had envisaged. This because not enough police training officers are seconded by the EU member states. So, instead of directly training officers, the EUPOL mission focuses on ‘training the trainers’ and expects the Afghan trainers to take home the lessons learned at EUPOL. The European mission has trained several hundred trainers. It has a budget of about 55 million euro per year. The United …

EU trains Afghan police to make bombs… with water (raw video)

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:01:37 +0000

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EU trains Afghan police to make water bombs

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:21:46 +0000

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Rasmussen Asked About Pakistan

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:00:17 +0000

NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen is asked about Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan during this press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Lisbon. Video source: NATO via TheNewsMarket.com

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NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Rasmussen Asked About Pakistan

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:00:17 +0000

NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen is asked about Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan during this press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Lisbon. Video source: NATO via TheNewsMarket.com

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Is 2014 Deadline Realistic for Afghanistan?

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:48:54 +0000

How confident are you that the 2014 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan is achievable?, asks a DPA journalist at the press conference following the NATO summit in Lisbon. Answering are NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Afghan President Hamid Karzai Video source: NATO via TheNewsMarket.com

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Karzai asked about fighting/talking strategy

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:40:37 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is asked about his strategy at this press conference following the November 2010 NATO summit in Lisbon.

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: What Makes NATO Positive on Afghanistan?

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:31:33 +0000

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen responds to a question at the press conference following the November 2010 Lisbon summit, asking what makes NATO so positive about developments in Afghanistan that it believes a withdrawal in 2014 is possible.

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Karzai Defends War Policy

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:23:08 +0000

Responding to a question put forward by the BBC, Afghan President Hamid Karzai defends the decision to continue to fight the Taleban. Video source: NATO via TheNewsMarket.com

NATO Press Conference / Lisbon: Karzai Defends War Policy

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:23:08 +0000

Responding to a question put forward by the BBC, Afghan President Hamid Karzai defends the decision to continue to fight the Taleban. Video source: NATO via TheNewsMarket.com

NATO’s Rasmussen Reflects on Future of Military Alliance

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 07:08:24 +0000

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen refects on the future challenges for the military alliance at the opening of the 2010 NATO summit in Lisbon.

NATO Summit in Lisbon – Playlist

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 07:06:30 +0000

This playlist includes videos and statements relating to the November 2010 NATO summit in Lisbon. The footage was made available by various sources, including NATO itself via Newsmarket, the European Council and the Europe by Satellite broadcast service.

NATO Chief Rasmussen Opens 2010 Lisbon Summit

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:49:33 +0000

NATO Chief Rasmussen Opens 2010 Lisbon Summit

admin — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:49:33 +0000

NATO Chief Rasmussen Opens 2010 Lisbon Summit

Hague dismisses Wikileaks revelations on Afghanistan

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:02:10 +0000

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday dismissed the potential impact of the more than 75.000 classified military documents that have been revealed by Wikileaks, saying that “they should not be damaging the international efforts.”

Arriving at a EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, Hague said he hoped that the “Wikileaks” revelations would not poison the atmosphere and damage the international efforts in building up the Afghan state.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said it was too early to assess the impact of the revelations.

Go to http://wardiary.wikileaks.org/ for more about the documents.

Hague dismisses Wikileaks revelations on Afghanistan

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:02:26 +0000

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday dismissed the potential impact of the 75.000 classified military documents that have been revealed by Wikileaks, saying that “they should not be damaging the international efforts.” Arriving at a EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, Hague said he hoped that the “Wikileaks” revelations would not poison the atmosphere and damage the international efforts in building up the Afghan state. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said it was too early to assess the impact of the revelations. Go to wardiary.wikileaks.org for more about the documents. Also read Greenslade’s blog at the Guardian : www.guardian.co.uk

Seymour Hersh speaks at Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Geneva (Highlights)

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:23:45 +0000

www.gijc2010.ch http One of the most award investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, has accepted the invitation made by the GIJC 2010 to be a keynote speaker in Geneva. Known as early as 1969 to be the journalist who broke the My Lai scandal in Vietnam, Seymour Hersh has more recently exposed the Abu Ghraib scandal. Hersh has published eight books, including, most recently, “Chain of Command”, which was based on his reporting on Abu Ghraib for the New Yorker magazine. It is the first time that Hersh spoke at GIJC.

Vygaudas Usackas appointed as EU Special Rep for Afghanistan

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:13:13 +0000

From EbS: Vygaudas USACKAS, former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, was appointed as Special Representative of the EU and Head of the EU Delegation in Kabul, taking up office from 1 April 2010. 00:00:05 Exterior, European Council 00:00:09 EUSR for Afghanistan, Vygaudas USACKAS, arrives at the European Council and meets EU Foreign Affairs Ministers (12 shots) 00:01:23 Photographer taking picture of EUSR for Afghanistan, Vygaudas USACKAS (2 shots) 00:01:27 Soundbite, EUSR for Afghanistan, Vygaudas USACKAS (in English): My primary task is to lead the EU action plan on Afghanistan and Pakistan. On what concerns Afghanistan, I look forward to working in team spirit with the member state ambassadors in Kabul in order provide the best support we can to a country which is going through tremendous difficulties and challenges. I see that as a big challenge and a big task. But in order to achieve anything we need to work as a team not only among the EU ambassadors. 00:02:19 Soundbite, EUSR for Afghanistan, Vygaudas USACKAS (in English): The main challenge is to make a contribution for a stable and secure environment – in which we contribute with the EUPOL – and an agreed task to provide possible assistance to strengthening in good governance. And that is what the EU historically is good at. We all know the problems that people in Afghanistan face with corruption and we are looking forward to working with the Afghan government to support them in the direction of better governance …

Vygaudas Usackas appointed as EU Special Rep for Afghanistan

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:13:13 +0000

Afghanistan: a chronic crisis

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:31:29 +0000

In Afghanistan, millions of people are suffering the consequences of the conflict and repeated natural disasters. Since 1992, the European Commission Humanitarian department has been financing projects which bring relief to the victims of this long and protracted crisis. ec.europa.eu