UN chief says discovery of vast mineral deposits in Afghanistan should be managed properly
November 12, 2012
Source: Wadsam
Drawing attention to Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a recent statement that the mineral deposits discovered in the country should be managed properly and it shouldn’t spark civil strife as feared by some.
He also noted that peace and security must be recognized as a critical “fourth dimension” of sustainable development as “as we look beyond the 2015 MDG (Millennium Development Goal) deadline”.
“In Afghanistan, some have voiced fears that recently discovered mineral deposits – worth an estimated trillion US dollars – could perpetuate civil conflict,” said the UN chief in his message released on 6 November on the occasion of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
The vast mineral reserves buried under the Afghan soil include copper, gold, gas and coal, among others. Speaking at a conference on managing the mineral deposits held in Kabul in early August this year, the speakers said the country’s mineral potential could greatly improve the country’s economy and provide funds to develop the country.
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