UN Afghanistan envoy urges better U.S cooperation
OSLO May 27 (Reuters) - The United States is the biggest obstacle to coordinating aid efforts in Afghanistan, U.N special envoy Kai Eide was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
Resistance to change and a lack of cooperation between aid organisations are hampering Afghanistan's development, the Norwegian told the Dagsavisen newspaper in his home country.
"The Americans are the biggest problem, using enormous resources, particularly through the PRTs (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) and through contractors," said Eide, who is responsible for coordinating international civilian efforts in Afghanistan.
"I hope the U.S, in its evaluation of the Afghanistan strategy, will be taking a particular look at its own policy."
Eide said that even though there was an agreement to coordinate international efforts and help develop Afghan institutions, most countries have continued to work separately.
"I see signs of improvement, but there are still significant aid resources -- many hundreds of millions of dollars -- that we do not have any control over," Eide said.
There is an "amazing" resistance to change, he said. "We are moving very slowly."
Eide applauded U.S. President Barack Obama's Afghan strategy, announced in March, for putting more emphasis on building civilian institutions. But he warned against an "Americanisation" of international efforts in Afghanistan.
"Let us not make this too much into an American engagement," Eide said. "The formulation of policies must happen in close cooperation between the Americans and the Europeans. But that will demand that the Americans listen." (Reporting by Aasa Christine Stoltz; editing by Robert Woodward)
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