FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Kerry, Karzai Make Progress on Security Agreement Negotiations
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2013 - After weekend meetings in Kabul, Afghanistan, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he and Karzai had resolved all but one of the major issues critical to a bilateral security agreement between the two countries.
And en route to London this morning, Kerry consulted several times via phone with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel about the meetings, according to senior State Department officials who spoke with reporters in a background briefing.
Last night, Kerry and Karzai spoke during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, positive about the progress they'd made.
"I believe that in the last 24 hours, as we have worked hard at these issues that really have been negotiated over now for more than 11 months, that we have resolved ... the major issues that [President Karzai] went through," Kerry said.
Kerry said he and Karzai "have put ourselves in a position for an enduring [U.S.-Afghanistan] partnership going forward in the years ahead."
In his remarks, Karzai had described his main issues as national sovereignty, prevention of civilian casualties, and a clear definition of invasion by foreign forces.
But both leaders acknowledged that, on the outstanding issue of claiming U.S. jurisdiction for U.S. troops who are accused of committing crimes while deployed in Afghanistan, the decision about whether to allow this agreement in the bilateral agreement will be left to the Loya Jirga, or council of Afghan elders, which Karzai has called to meet in November.
Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had said in July after meeting with Karzai in Kabul that getting the security agreement signed by October fit in with his best military advice for putting in place the framework for the continuing U.S. and NATO effort in the country after Dec. 31, 2014, when the current NATO mandate expires.
Last night Kerry said his delegation was pleased that the agreement reached could be submitted to a Loya Jirga, where it will go through the appropriate political process, including the issue of jurisdiction for U.S. troops who act outside the law while in Afghanistan post-2014.
"The question of jurisdiction is an appropriate one for the president to submit to the Loya Jirga, and we have high confidence that the people of Afghanistan will see the benefits that exist in this agreement," the secretary said.
"But we need to say that if the issue of jurisdiction cannot be resolved, then unfortunately there cannot be a bilateral security agreement," Kerry added. "So we hope that that will be resolved. And it's up to the Afghan people, as it should be."
The secretary explained that if an American who is part of any expeditionary force under agreement from the Afghan government were to violate any law, the United States would prosecute to the full measure of that law and any perpetrator of any incident or crime would be punished.
"There is no immunity," he said, referring to what some call immunity for U.S. troops posted overseas.
"Let me make that clear: No immunity," Kerry added. "And we have proven in many cases, unfortunately too many instances, that when somebody has violated the law, they have paid the price. There are people in prison today in the United States of America who have paid that price."
In terms of jurisdiction, Kerry said, where the United States has forces serving in other parts of the world, including Japan, South Korea, Europe, Africa and elsewhere, they operate under the same standard.
"We completely respect that the [Afghan] president should decide appropriately that this issue ought to be decided in his Loya Jirga," Kerry said.
But, he added, "if [the jurisdiction issue] isn't resolved, we can't send our forces in places because we don't subject United States citizens to that kind of uncertainty with respect to their rights and lives."
Showing posts with label BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT. Show all posts
Monday, October 14, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
U.S.-AFGHAN NEGOTIATING ON AGREEMENT ON FUTURE U.S.-AFGHAN PARTNERSHIP
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Negotiations Continue on Agreement to Chart Future US-Afghan Partnership
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2013 - The commander of U.S. Central Command expressed confidence that the bilateral security agreement being negotiated between the United States and Afghanistan will ensure the strong partnership forged over the past 12 years continues to grow beyond 2014.
"While we are preparing to transition out of that country, we are not disengaging or turning our backs on them," Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III said in an email interview with American Forces Press Service.
"On the contrary, we intend to stay engaged and continue to support them as they build and enhance their capability in the coming years," he said. "We have been very clear that we desire a long-term relationship with our Afghan partners."
Austin emphasized Afghanistan's importance as a partner in a critical region of the world, particularly in light of its relationship with and proximity to Pakistan.
"The fact remains that while we are transitioning from Afghanistan, we're not abandoning that country or the region," he said. "Indeed, we cannot abandon the region given our vital interests in that complex, volatile and important part of the world."
Of particular concern, Austin said, is the presence of groups and organizations that would seek ungoverned spaces to train and project terrorism and extremism.
"These organizations pose a threat to our homeland and our interests around the globe," he said. "We must therefore guard against them and the ungoverned spaces they seek in parts of Afghanistan and elsewhere where they may thrive if left unchecked."
The U.S. intent is to maintain a small force on the ground in Afghanistan after Dec. 31, 2014, said Austin, noting that the force's follow-on mission, as envisioned, would be to continue advising, training and assisting Afghan National Security Forces and help them build both capability and confidence.
"However, this is wholly dependent upon us achieving a bilateral security agreement," Austin emphasized. "Simply put, we will not allow U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan without [one]."
While expressing confidence that such an agreement will be reached, Austin said he's anxious to get it done as quickly as possible.
"The fact that we don't yet have concurrence complicates our ability to plan our way ahead," he said.
Resolution of the post-2014 U.S. presence in Afghanistan also will help ease concern among some regional partners that the drawdown will leave a vacuum that opens the door to destabilizing influences, Austin said.
Austin recognized the strong ties built between U.S. and Afghan forces over more than a decade of combined operations.
"Our troops have served side-by-side under incredibly difficult circumstances," he said. "Together we've learned valuable lessons and built steadfast relationships."
The United States has invested heavily in both blood and national treasure to help provide the Afghan people increased security and opportunity, he said.
"Given their strategic importance and the tremendous investment we have made on behalf of the people and country of Afghanistan over the past 12-plus years, it goes without saying that we have every intention of maintaining this important military-to-military relationship well into the future," Austin said.
"Continuing to strengthen this partnership will remain one of my top priorities," he added.
Austin noted the key role the United States plays in helping not only Afghanistan, but also other regional partners, build capacity so they can improve security, not just within their borders, but across the region.
"Therefore, we will remain present and engaged, primarily through foreign military sales, bilateral and multilateral training exercises and other engagements," he said. "Ultimately, our goal is to do all that we can to promote greater security, stability and prosperity throughout the region."
Negotiations Continue on Agreement to Chart Future US-Afghan Partnership
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2013 - The commander of U.S. Central Command expressed confidence that the bilateral security agreement being negotiated between the United States and Afghanistan will ensure the strong partnership forged over the past 12 years continues to grow beyond 2014.
"While we are preparing to transition out of that country, we are not disengaging or turning our backs on them," Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III said in an email interview with American Forces Press Service.
"On the contrary, we intend to stay engaged and continue to support them as they build and enhance their capability in the coming years," he said. "We have been very clear that we desire a long-term relationship with our Afghan partners."
Austin emphasized Afghanistan's importance as a partner in a critical region of the world, particularly in light of its relationship with and proximity to Pakistan.
"The fact remains that while we are transitioning from Afghanistan, we're not abandoning that country or the region," he said. "Indeed, we cannot abandon the region given our vital interests in that complex, volatile and important part of the world."
Of particular concern, Austin said, is the presence of groups and organizations that would seek ungoverned spaces to train and project terrorism and extremism.
"These organizations pose a threat to our homeland and our interests around the globe," he said. "We must therefore guard against them and the ungoverned spaces they seek in parts of Afghanistan and elsewhere where they may thrive if left unchecked."
The U.S. intent is to maintain a small force on the ground in Afghanistan after Dec. 31, 2014, said Austin, noting that the force's follow-on mission, as envisioned, would be to continue advising, training and assisting Afghan National Security Forces and help them build both capability and confidence.
"However, this is wholly dependent upon us achieving a bilateral security agreement," Austin emphasized. "Simply put, we will not allow U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan without [one]."
While expressing confidence that such an agreement will be reached, Austin said he's anxious to get it done as quickly as possible.
"The fact that we don't yet have concurrence complicates our ability to plan our way ahead," he said.
Resolution of the post-2014 U.S. presence in Afghanistan also will help ease concern among some regional partners that the drawdown will leave a vacuum that opens the door to destabilizing influences, Austin said.
Austin recognized the strong ties built between U.S. and Afghan forces over more than a decade of combined operations.
"Our troops have served side-by-side under incredibly difficult circumstances," he said. "Together we've learned valuable lessons and built steadfast relationships."
The United States has invested heavily in both blood and national treasure to help provide the Afghan people increased security and opportunity, he said.
"Given their strategic importance and the tremendous investment we have made on behalf of the people and country of Afghanistan over the past 12-plus years, it goes without saying that we have every intention of maintaining this important military-to-military relationship well into the future," Austin said.
"Continuing to strengthen this partnership will remain one of my top priorities," he added.
Austin noted the key role the United States plays in helping not only Afghanistan, but also other regional partners, build capacity so they can improve security, not just within their borders, but across the region.
"Therefore, we will remain present and engaged, primarily through foreign military sales, bilateral and multilateral training exercises and other engagements," he said. "Ultimately, our goal is to do all that we can to promote greater security, stability and prosperity throughout the region."
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