Confronting Global Challenges

This is truly an important forum and I'm very, very proud and very pleased to be here with you. In fact, as I came in and looked around the room I said to myself there are a number of you who I know and who I've known for years in different capacities and some who I also have gotten to know since I've taken up this position as Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Clearly this forum is very important because the dialogue that we have with the NGO community is critical to the development of U.S. foreign policy. I also think the Secretary of State and his participation here this morning attest to the importance we attach to dialogue with you.

In each of the issues in my portfolio, the NGO community is a crucial and critical player. In fact, when I thought about every bureau and office that falls under Global Affairs, I literally couldn't think of one issue in which there isn't interaction with the NGO community. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is one bureau; Oceans, Environment, and Science, and the office that deals with infectious diseases; Population, Refugees, and Migration; and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. As you mentioned also, the Science and Technology Advisor’s office, the new Trafficking in Persons office, as well as the Women's Office.

Clearly our work encompasses engagement with a wide array of organizations and activities, ranging from, certainly right now, a very close engagement with humanitarian relief organizations that are on the front line of delivering life-saving relief; think tanks that are grappling with many of the same tough issues that we think about every day and that have provided us with invaluable input; advocacy organizations that lobby the Hill and provide us with feedback on our policies; labor organizations; faith-based organizations; human rights and democracy groups; environmental protection groups; and ethnic groups.

The list goes on. This is not meant to be exclusive. There are many more. I've only just scratched the surface.

But what is important is feedback. This is really crucial; and it's important for our work. Clearly our cooperation is truly essential to successful policy development and implementation.

Let me begin by highlighting for you an important report. I don't know how many of you have had the benefit of seeing this report, which was issued earlier this year. It was issued by the National Intelligence Council and is entitled Global Trends 2015.

The reason why I cite this is because this particular report noted that there will be key drivers and key issues -- global issues -- that will bear upon U.S. foreign policy in the years ahead.

The report notes that it is critical that we are engaged in each of these global issues -- like science and technology, management of natural resources, conflict governance, rule of law, all of these areas, globalization. What we do now will affect our future and future trends in the global area for 2015.

In particular, it also states that these issues will be the key issues that will shape the world in 2015. And in fact, these are issues that have direct bearing upon stability -- global stability -- and on the prospects for conflict worldwide.

Let me go into some of the issues. I can't go into everything this morning, but there are several that I have picked out that I thought would be important to discuss with you.

Let me first begin with the issue of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. This is a global problem that clearly knows no borders. And it requires a global response. What is also key here is that there be a public-private partnership.

We have indicated right from the start that in addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS, as well as other infectious diseases, in order to tackle these issues, there must be a public-private partnership.

Furthermore, we advocate an integrated approach, an approach in which an emphasis is placed on prevention with a continuum of support for treatment and care, as well as for cure.

Clearly in this area there are a number of the activities that we have been dealing with; one is the establishment of the Global Trust Fund. In May, President Bush announced the Administration's contribution of $200 million to the Global Trust Fund. This is in addition to other monies that we have already contributed bilaterally and multilaterally to dealing with the eradication of these infectious diseases.

NGOs have played a very critical role in this regard in helping us address these issues: the integrated approach to prevention, treatment, care, and cure -- and also in working fathoming through the issues that have to be addressed in the establishment of a global trust fund. Specifically, these are issues pertaining to the scope of the fund, how it is going to function, its specific mission and mandate, as well as the composition of a council which should be put together. Your input has been really invaluable to us in this regard.

Let me come to a second issue, the issue of trafficking in persons. We have defined trafficking in persons as a modern day form of slavery. The figure from our sources is in the area of some 700,000 people, especially women and children, who are trafficked every year, including here in the United States.

When I have mentioned the figure, which I just cited to you, to a number of NGOs, some have said to us that they think that that estimate is actually a modest estimate. They note that there are, in fact, many more who are and have been trafficked worldwide.

The contact that we have with you on this issue is critical. This is because we are in the midst of a global effort to eradicate trafficking in persons. In order to do it, we have to have a multi-tiered effort -- an effort that is focused on prevention of trafficking in persons, as well as protection of its victims and prosecution of the traffickers.

In order to do this, this effort cannot be led by only one country. It has to be a global effort. And it cannot only be a governmental effort. It has to be a multi-tiered effort in which NGOs here in the United States as well as those NGOs abroad are engaged in this. This kind of strategy really requires a great deal of persistence.

We issued the first report in trafficking in persons this year. Before the report was put together, the sources that we derived our report from were not only our missions abroad but also journalists, indigenous NGO organizations as well as U.S. organizations dealing with trafficking in persons issues, as well as other sources.

And immediately after we issued the report, we sat down with those interested parties in the NGO community to get their feedback. When we got together we got invaluable feedback about the first release of our report. That's an example of the kind of direct feedback that is very useful to us.

We will be moving forward with drafting next year's report and we see your role as integral to our process, particularly in terms of getting information.

As I cited at the beginning, a number of NGOs have indicated to us they want to come back to us because our operating figure is a modest one and there are many more victims who have been trafficked.

Let me move on to human rights. Human rights is the cornerstone of what we do. Human rights is an integral component of U.S. foreign policy. Without a fundamental respect for human rights -- and this is across the board -- societies will continue to be in conflict.

Clearly, this is true in thinking about what is taking place in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a classic example of a country in which denial of basic rights to its citizens leads to instability and, in fact, to turmoil.

Many of you have given us quite a bit of information that has been invaluable in the area of human rights, particularly in putting many of our reports together. We continue to look forward to your constant feedback and input in that regard.

Climate change is another issue I deal with. There are many who we have continuously had discussions with concerning climate change. This is a serious issue for us. President Bush has said it is not only an issue which we attach importance to but it is also a global issue which requires a global response.

I think many of you know that we have also indicated that we do not believe that the Kyoto Protocol is the appropriate way to deal with this issue. We feel that the Kyoto Protocol is not effective. It's not fair. It's not affordable.

But we do believe that the issue of climate change is important and it must be addressed. As a party to the framework convention we will continue to be very engaged on this issue and particularly on behalf of our national interest.

Also, another focus in this regard, not only related to the specific issue of climate change but much more broadly the issue of the environment and sustainable development, is the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which will be held next year in Johannesburg, and about which we already have had quite a few discussions on the key themes. These are themes that we have discussed with many across the globe in order to decide what issues must be on the table. Such themes include poverty eradication, the issue of governance, and the issue of private sector financing.

In order to ensure sustainable development you must have governance, transparency, rule of law, the ability to attract investment, which in the long term can have a very important impact on development and sustainable development. So we look forward in the year ahead to having discussions with you on this issue.

Now let me come to refugees and the issue of Afghanistan and our humanitarian relief. Let me first say a word broadly about refugees. Refugees have been a reality of the international system as long as there has been conflict, war ,and struggle; and this is around the globe.

There are pockets that we have been dealing with consistently, that you have been dealing with consistently. We are strongly committed to working with you and others to help refugees, to help them return home, to integrate into new societies, and to be resettled into other countries.

Our work in this area has received extra prominence as of late in light of the situation in Afghanistan. So let me say some specific words related to the humanitarian and relief efforts specific to Afghanistan.

Our humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan were ongoing long before the terrorist attacks on September 11. In fact, for those of you who this applies to in the audience today, this is the same for you. Our efforts collectively have been longstanding. Humanitarian efforts have been longstanding in Afghanistan.

U.S. support has been critical to international organizations which rely on groups like yours to carry out their programs. For example, we provide roughly 80% of resources for the World Food Program.

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration plays the lead in U.S. efforts to coordinate the handling of refugees from Afghanistan. U.S. aid reaches these individuals, as well as many of those suffering in Afghanistan. This means aid reaches internally displaced persons inside as well as those who are outside.

Here the work of NGOs is absolutely, absolutely -- I underscore that -- critical to the implementation on the ground of the programs that we fund. Without you, this could not be implemented; this could not take place.

NGOs, whether directly supported by the U.S. Government or through international organizations like the UNHCR or WFP, have been on the front lines of our efforts to sustain a battered Afghan population.

Our resources and support likely would not reach the intended beneficiaries but for the job that you perform, and under uniquely challenging conditions and circumstances.

We are already considering, by the way, how best we can help and assist Afghanistan in its development in the future. However the reconstruction of Afghanistan may be organized, I know that we will continue our partnership with you to help Afghan people who have suffered for too many years.

In fact, I will tell you that it was in a recent meeting that we had with the NGO community on the humanitarian relief situation in Afghanistan, in the region, that this issue of reconstruction came up.

Many NGOs have said to us, "We want to know what we could be doing. We want to be in partnership with you and we want to ensure that we have an ongoing dialogue in this area."

Let me say a few words about the assistance, specifically financial assistance. I'd like to specifically mention and announce some of the specific assistance that we are giving.

President Bush announced $320 million on October 4 for Afghan emergency assistance, which would bring the total U.S. funding provided for the Afghan emergency since October 1 to $70.1 million. This total includes $32.6 million from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and $38.6 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In the weeks to come, further funding out of the $320 million will be dispensed for the humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan. Of the $18.1 million provided by the United States, which I'm formally announcing to you today, let me share this with you its specific disbursement.

I am pleased to announce first that $6.5 million will be administered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), $4 million by the World Food Program, $3 million by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, $2 million by the International Organization for Migration, $2 million by the United Nations Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and $600,000 by the United National Population Fund.

We believe that humanitarian assistance for refugees, displaced persons, conflict victims, and other persons at risk, as well as the pursuit of solutions for humanitarian crises, are a shared international responsibility.

We also call on other donors to be generous in their response to the humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan. Our work together on Afghanistan demonstrates the importance of continuing our dialogue with you, exchanging ideas, together grappling with many tough issues.

We eagerly seek your input and recommendations. The sharing of information is critical, including field reporting and reality updates from the field. We must continue to build relationships. We rely on you as implementers, partners, conduits of information.

At the same time I also think you look to us on many questions pertaining to funding and also leadership in terms of our direction. That's why specifically, as I said, I was pleased to announce the actual disbursement of the $18.1 million and how it is being apportioned. Clearly, there is every reason to ensure that our mutually beneficial relationship continues in the time ahead.

With that, let me stop here and really welcome comments that you may have, which would certainly be welcome, as well as questions. And thank you. I'm delighted to be here with you.

(Applause.)

QUESTION: My name is Nathan Karnes and I'm vice-president of United Nations Association, the division in Connecticut. You just described the aid allocation today, and I appreciate you doing that here.

I'm wondering who is going to coordinate this not just for the U.S. but for the world community. I'm a UNA leader. It seems like the United Nations is an appropriate place of coordination. We have other allies. I'm sure that you probably are in communication maybe with Great Britain and what their groups are doing or what they're going to give to their organizations.

But here's one piece of it. You're describing $320 million as the total so far. There are many other pieces. How is it going to appear to work smoothly when we turn on CNN and we hear the reports rather than how is it going to appear that the U.S. or the United Nations is failing in a coordination job?

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Okay, thank you. Let me address this from several different angles. First on the question of funding, if I may, and then speak to implementation.

On funding, there have been meetings of donors groups. In fact, there was recently a meeting of the Afghan Support Group, in which a number of countries were in fact represented, and in which as a result of that meeting that took place there are a number of donor countries.

So there is actually a coordinating body and mechanism which have its base in the United Nations, which seeks to coordinate the donor support.

As you may know, in this regard, Secretary General Kofi Annan had made an appeal at the outset for some $584 million to support and provide humanitarian relief and support for Afghanistan and for our relief effort.

That amount has been surpassed by the international community's response, by our response. I believe roughly the figure now is something in the range at least at this time of something like $720, maybe $730 million that has been reached. It may even be higher today because each day there has been information with respect to new contributions being put on the table by donor countries.

Secondly, with regard to broader implementation. Let me start here at home in sense of the State Department. Internally we do have an inter-agency coordination group. In fact, I happen to chair that coordination group here in the Department.

We bring together the Agency for International Development, which is responsible specifically for our food relief efforts. We have the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration represented, which is part of our Global Affairs Office and which deals specifically with refugees in this case.

We also have at the table the National Security Council. We have different offices from the Department of Defense, the humanitarian office as well as other offices dealing with on the ground action as part of our inter-agency group.

We also have representatives who are dealing with the region politically. I'm just scratching the surface but the point being we have a number of individuals at our inter-agency group that meets, in fact, very frequently during the course of the week. We meet twice a week definitively and then as needed contingent upon information.

In addition to that, the group inside has had ongoing discussions with a wide range of NGOs. I know for myself that we have met with NGOs twice, if not three times a week. I know that we had agreed to set up a communication link with AID, in particular, and with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

In addition to that, we also have at CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida a structure which has been set up in which we have the UN organizations represented, as well as USAID and the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Again, the purpose is to have clear communication. That group is linked to a unit that is in Islamabad.

Separate from that, a broader question, which I interpreted from your question, is the issue about the appointment of Ambassador Brahimi and his role, which has a political component as well as a humanitarian component in terms of future developments.

We already have had coordination with him. He, in fact, visited the department last week. We've had ongoing discussions with him and expect that there will be very clear coordination with the UN and with all the relevant UN organizations, certainly not only as it is now but also in the time ahead with the very challenging task of reconstruction and development.

Thank you. Yes.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Women Voters (inaudible). I'd like to move to your report on trafficking in persons, which I think many of us feel is very important. I wanted to ask you about the distribution of that report. How many copies were printed? Are you relying mainly on electronic means for distributing the information? Do you have a plan and can we help you get that information out?

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Okay, I don't know if everyone heard but the question was about our trafficking report, how many copies, how we've distributed it. Let me say a few words on this specifically and then I'm going to say a few other things that I didn't have a chance to say in my remarks about the Trafficking in Persons office.

As to the report, I don't know the precise figure but I know there were, I believe, thousands of copies that were printed. If you don't have one, we will make sure that you get one.

In fact, we have someone here from my office. We will make sure that we get together with you and you get it. In fact, if anyone else would like that report, we would certainly be delighted to share that with you. Also, I believe that report was put on the website and we can get that information as well for you.

What I didn't have a chance to say here, and I would like to say -- and I appreciate your question -- is that, we have created a new office. This office, as of last week, has come into being officially.

We are going to have an official opening in several weeks when not only the head of the new office is in place but also a number of other individuals who will be in that office are in place.

But I wanted to share that with you because its work is really going to be quite critical. Its work has several purposes. First is not only the issue of the release of the report, which is important to us. The reason why it's important to us is that, it is a tool, it is an instrument in which we can engage other countries in discussion about the information that we found.

We view it as a positive tool, an incentive. We have a problem in our own country and we want to be able to engage other countries in this discussion and the report enables us to do that and to highlight those areas, whether in terms of a source country or a transit country or destination country, and who falls into what category.

Secondly, the office is going to coordinate the U.S. governmental effort on what steps need to be taken with regard to trafficking.

Now, already many of our agencies have already been engaged in fighting trafficking in persons, but what is new about this is not only the report but the attempt to really ensure that there is a coherent strategy and that we all know what each other is doing.

The Department of Labor is engaged in this. The Department of Justice is engaged in this. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as AID.

I'm not suggesting that we haven't had programs. We have had programs in this area. But we need to coordinate it and ensure that we are very effective in the three areas I mentioned: prevention, prosecution, and protection of victims.

Then finally we will also have a task force, which will be at the cabinet level and be chaired by the Secretary of State. And I think that this will be quite important as well. Not only because of the attention drawn to the issue specifically but again because of the kind of outflow that will result in terms of finding out what others are doing with regard to their programs -- meaning these other agencies -- and ensuring we have a very effective strategy and coordination.

Let's go way to the back. Yes, the gentleman who turned around. Yes.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) in Fairfax, Virginia. A few minute ago General Taylor quoted the President as saying that you are either with us or with the terrorists. Earlier this morning Secretary Powell said that we welcome assistance from anyone who is willing to work with us and went on to note that it's important, however, not to abandon our principles.

I'm wondering in the course of these very difficult discussions on our collaboration with other members of the coalition, how have you as the senior State Department official charged with such important issues as human rights and nonproliferation, viewed the discussions with respect to the decisions we're making on particular countries -- Russia, the Chechnya issue, Uzbekistan, Pakistan -- in which there have been some arguments that the United States is shortchanging long-term interests in human rights and nonproliferation for the exigencies of the moment?

How would you advise those of us who are interested and concerned about these global issues to articulate those concerns in an environment where we want to be both supportive of U.S. policy and also hold U.S. policy accountable for Secretary Powell's very important point about staying true to our principles?

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Okay, let me make several comments. Did everyone hear the question? No. The question, I will condense it a bit. Essentially the question was how we're grappling with issues on terrorism as we put our coalition together.

The gentleman had mentioned the Secretary's comment specifically about leaving the door open for those to join in the coalition and with our effort, and at the same time, the line that has been drawn in terms of terrorism. There are those that are with us or those that are on the other side and harboring terrorists.

And how are we grappling with issues at the same time, issues of human rights and nonproliferation?

Let me first make a comment on the front end and then come to human rights and nonproliferation. On the front end of what you said, I don't see those as being mutually exclusive. I think certainly the intent of the Secretary's comment demonstrates that we see the issue of terrorism and the need to tackle and eradicate terrorism. It has to be a global effort.

In this regard, it has been indicated that with those countries -- those regimes that come to the table -- we'll open the door if there is something to offer. We have to see what is being put on the table, evaluating it, assessing it as to what is being offered.

Certainly Frank Taylor is on the cutting edge of that, and his office is dealing with the kind of information that is coming into place.

Secondly, I think clearly the line has been drawn as a marker as we move along. This is the first phase. The phase is very much focused on Afghanistan. There is a united front on Afghanistan. We will see what will unfold in the time ahead. I will say that there will undoubtedly be a challenge, and we will see how we will move forward.

But I don't see those as being conflictive. In fact, I think they're mutually reinforcing. I think they lay down certain markers as to the importance we attach to really tackling and battling terrorism.

As to the issue of human rights and nonproliferation, as we are in the midst of engaging the coalition on the issue of counterterrorism and also issues pertaining to humanitarian assistance and relief, we have just as much engaged on questions related to human rights, democracy, and questions of nonproliferation.

This is part of our dialogue. It has been part of our dialogue. It is now part of our dialogue. It will continue to be part of our dialogue.

As I mentioned in my own remarks, I have the area of human rights, democracy, and labor. Nonproliferation falls into another under secretary's office here at the State Department.

But I will say that clearly, as I mentioned in my own remarks, human rights has been an integral component of our foreign policy and will continue to be.

Quite specifically, when President Bush was in Shanghai there were a range of topics that were discussed and, in fact, both of these areas and both of these issues were topics of discussion during the bilaterals and during the discourse that took place in Shanghai.

I will say to you that we welcome, as I mentioned in my remarks, very much your input during this time. Particularly, I say this with regard to the area of human rights and democracy. Certainly your input as we go along and your views, your perspective, we would very much want to hear.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) and I'm president of the Climate Institute here in Washington, DC. I think perhaps --

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: You're president of? I'm sorry.

QUESTION: I'm sorry. The Climate Institute in Washington.

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Okay, Climate Institute.

QUESTION: And I think perhaps there may be an opportunity in the response to the tragic events right here for the U.S. to combine global environmental leadership in its activities in South Asia.

In July in Genoa, the President, together with seven other leaders of the G-8, signed off on the Global Energy Task Force that had been proposed last year by Tony Blair and came forward with a very strong report suggesting, among other things, delivery of (inaudible) energy over the next decade to people in rural areas around the world as well as some activity within the industrialized countries.

One immediate opportunity in Pakistan initially and eventually in Afghanistan when things settle where President Musharraf has stuck his neck out enormously for us might be in the northwest province where the vast majority of villages are currently non-electrified and these are heavily (inaudible) villages where obviously people have very ambivalent feelings about the government at the moment.

That the delivery of rural electricity and in many cases through PV that would be quite economic would be an opportunity to essentially -- and at the same time be a kind of down-payment initially on the commitment the G-8 leaders have started to make to really look at an energy transformation that would start to meet these needs.

So perhaps as we start looking for various things to put into the response, this might be something that could be considered.

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Okay, thank you. I really appreciate that. The gentleman's comments focused predominantly on, if I may categorize it, essentially reconstruction and development and in the area of the environment relevant to rural electricity, specific development in the region. Pakistan, you mentioned specifically, and Afghanistan.

But I would just simply say that that is something that, as I've indicated, we will be focused on. I was very struck by the fact that when we met with a number of NGOs specifically dealing with humanitarian relief, assistance, human rights questions, and democracy, that this issue came up broadly about development.

Already looking ahead, it really was underscored to us that now is the time to be thinking not only on the immediate. The immediate is very tragic and we're very concerned about the upcoming winter and what ramifications the winter in Afghanistan and in the region will have on people. We want to get food in. We want to get blankets in. We want to get shelter in. But at the same time we need to be thinking ahead.

So if I can underscore anything, and your comment certainly does that, we would very much welcome your thoughts, your input and talent in this area, particularly with those that have expertise on the ground relevant to reconstruction and development. So thank you.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) supporting your gender work. One of the questions I have is there's a lot of concern around if there's a way to incorporate participation by women Afghan groups that are here and abroad (inaudible) thinking they have excellent contacts there. There are groups in Pakistan working with the refugees.

It's easy to think of a peace process and a development reconstruction process where maybe they're not even consulted and the total objective would be reinforced by that full participation, so I just wanted to (inaudible).

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: I am so delighted that you raised this issue of how to incorporate the views, the voices of Afghan women at this particular time.

I have to say that first, this is an issue that actually our Bureau of Human Rights has been dealing with for quite some time not only with regard to Afghan women but women globally, women's rights, women's perspectives, human rights abuses, that have been targeted against women not just only in terms of trafficking in persons targeted at women but much beyond.

The Women's Office, in fact, I just turned to them recently and asked them to actually put down their thoughts as to ways and means in which we can reach out. Here there are many of you in the room that have an interest in that. Really the door is open. You may have ideas and access and thoughts about particular groups, particular avenues and ways of pursuing this. We would really welcome it.

Literally, right now our Women's Office is, in fact, writing up a memo with suggestions which I've asked for so that we can forward because it's quite critical. This issue has come up a number of times and not just only raised by NGOs. It is something that we have looked at before. But right now the situation has changed and I think clearly, as you've indicated, they have a very vital role to play.

So a final note that I would leave you with is if there are those of you who do have access to a number of the groups and do have ideas, we would really welcome it very much.

Thank you.