Ex-UN envoy slams Holbrooke's Afghanistan approach

America's special representative for Afghanistan is implementing wrong, "Bosnian" methods in Afghanistan, says a former UN envoy.

Izvor: Danas

Thursday, 25.11.2010.

12:46

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America's special representative for Afghanistan is implementing wrong, "Bosnian" methods in Afghanistan, says a former UN envoy. Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide, who served as special UN envoy in Kabul until March 2010, told Belgrade's Danas newspaper that he unsuccessfully tried to spur Washington to sack Holbrooke. Ex-UN envoy slams Holbrooke's Afghanistan approach "Even though the (1995) Dayton negotiations were a precondition for peace in Bosnia-Herezgovina, Richard Holbrooke used intimidation methods during that process, and he is attempting to do the same in Afghanistan now," Eide noted. The diplomat stated that Washington had "clearly made a mistake" when they appointed Holbrooke, describing him as a person who stands in the way of improved relations between the Afghan authorities and the international community. "A person who implements such tactics gains lifelong enemies, considering that Afghanis, like people in the Balkans, are very proud. It's a pity that Holbrooke, who interfered in the election process in Afghanistan and who is attempting to bully the citizens of that country, still holds his position," said Eide. The Norwegian diplomat also told the daily that he personally unsuccessfully tried to influence the U.S. State Department to sack their Afghanistan envoy. Asked to appraise the current situation in Afghanistan, Eide said that it is "clear that neither NATO nor the Taliban can win", and that further military escalation represents "the wrong path". "I believe that the only solution is a political dialogue with the rebels. First, a temporary ceasefire should be declared in some areas, since the existing strategy, that has been almost entirely militarized, is not working. In other words, unless different methods are used, there will be no success," Eide concluded.

Ex-UN envoy slams Holbrooke's Afghanistan approach

"Even though the (1995) Dayton negotiations were a precondition for peace in Bosnia-Herezgovina, Richard Holbrooke used intimidation methods during that process, and he is attempting to do the same in Afghanistan now," Eide noted.

The diplomat stated that Washington had "clearly made a mistake" when they appointed Holbrooke, describing him as a person who stands in the way of improved relations between the Afghan authorities and the international community.

"A person who implements such tactics gains lifelong enemies, considering that Afghanis, like people in the Balkans, are very proud. It's a pity that Holbrooke, who interfered in the election process in Afghanistan and who is attempting to bully the citizens of that country, still holds his position," said Eide.

The Norwegian diplomat also told the daily that he personally unsuccessfully tried to influence the U.S. State Department to sack their Afghanistan envoy.

Asked to appraise the current situation in Afghanistan, Eide said that it is "clear that neither NATO nor the Taliban can win", and that further military escalation represents "the wrong path".

"I believe that the only solution is a political dialogue with the rebels. First, a temporary ceasefire should be declared in some areas, since the existing strategy, that has been almost entirely militarized, is not working. In other words, unless different methods are used, there will be no success," Eide concluded.

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