“A new Afghanistan through Afghan eyes”

Excellency Minister Anwari (Minister of Refugees and Repatriations, Afghanistan)
Ambassador Tarzi
Ambassador Martinelli
Mr. Graf (Deputy Director Regional Cooperation, SDC)
Distinguished Ambassadors
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the opening of this special exhibition. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Afghanistan for the truly collaborative organization of this event. I would also like to thank the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for its support. It is this spirit of cooperation, and of cross-cultural exchange that forms the backbone of our work here at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

This exhibition provides a window into Afghanistan. A window created by Afghans themselves. Through these photographs, we discover historical landmarks, beautiful landscapes and the daily lives of Afghans. This is not an Afghanistan that we usually see in the media - one often marked by violence, conflict and division. It is an Afghanistan steeped in culture, tradition and history. It is an Afghanistan where people struggle and where at the same time, they enjoy life as they build a better future for their country.

The United Nations has been engaged in Afghanistan for many decades. We have supported and continue to support the economic and social development of the country, as well as building its institutional capacity, for basic services and social protection, for jobs, justice and the rule of law. Over the last decade, the UN and the international community have supported the return of 4.6 million Afghan refugees. 7.3 million more children are now enrolled in school and the access and quality of health care has seen improvement. 80% of the country is now polio-free.
More women are empowered and representing their communities. Infant and maternal mortality has declined and far fewer people are victims of landmines.

As we also see in the photos, challenges remain. And we stand with the people of Afghanistan in confronting these challenges. In doing so, the UN will continue to support the priorities of the Afghan government and advance the aspirations of the Afghan people in pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity.

I appreciate the opportunity this evening to see a nuanced and complex portrait of this fascinating country. As we enjoy this exhibition, let us focus on the hope evident in the faces we see – and on our own hope - for a better, peaceful and more secure world for us all.


Thank you very much.