Following the historic agreement signed in Geneva on April 14, 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan, on May 11, the U.N. Secretary General appointed Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan to the position of Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan.
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan who held the post of UN high Commissioner for refugees from 1966 to the end of 1977 granted an exclusive interview to REFUGEES in September 1988, in which he defined his aims and priorities.
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: The first priority, as determined by the Secretary-General, was to mobilize the entire UN system in a co-ordinated effort to facilitate the resettlement of fort to facilitate the resettlement of all those displaced by the conflict in Afghanistan – both the refugees out side and those who are now homeless and uprooted within their own country. After this, to build up the basic infrastructure, essential to return to normal living in a country which has, quite literally, been laid waste, and where the list of needs is endless.
My role, then, is basically to rally all the means at the UN’s disposal to develop an inter-agency action plan tailored to the situation and the needs of the Afghan people, and to make sure that fund raising efforts are integrated rather than coming from a number of different sources, because this would, of course, create considerable confusion. It is in any event , crucial for projects and programmes on a regional basis to be both unified and autonomous. We must at all costs avoid establishing a kind of dependence on charitable handouts from outside. This would be totally alien to the nature of the Afghans, who are a very dignified and independent people.
Another of my task, as I see my role, is to conduct negotiations – of necessity a very delicate matter in such a mercurial political situation – with all the parties concerned: the governments and the Afghan authorities, particularly in those regions where we will be called upon to take action. I also see my role as providing a clearing-house for all information relating to Afghanistan and of possible interest to the UN system: to the donor countries who will want to know how their contributions for each sector are to be used, and also to the non-governmental organizations already working in the field, or who will soon be working alongside us.
It is my belief that elements of the role entrusted to me by the Secretary-General have been clearly understood. They have been referred to right from the start in all the analyses of the situation in Afghanistan.
Excerpt presented below from Refugees – November 1988 and as referenced in the newly released autobiography of “Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary.” Read the complete interview by Annick Billard of the Refugees magazine – November 1988 edition at The Heritage Society.
3 options to get a copy of Prince Sadruddin’s biography
- eBook version
- Hardback English version via The Book Guild
- Hardback French version via Editions Cabedita
Book Launch Event Details
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- Diana Miserez | My Publications | Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Humanitarian and Visionary
- The Heritage Society | Interview with Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan | By Annick Billard, Refugees magazine, November 1988 edition
- United Nations Office at Geneva | Working for Peace, Rights and Well-being | Book Launch: “Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary”
- United Nations Office at Geneva | Working for Peace, Rights and Well-being | Library Events
- International Geneva | Book Launch: “Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary”
- Corps consulaire et diplomatique Tout pour la paix | Invitation – Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan – 20 April 2017
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Live from UN Geneva - Book launch - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary By Diana Miserez Happening now! Book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary at the UN Library, Palais des Nations, Geneva – Opening remarks by Filippo Grandi United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Join us for this book launch and enjoy recollections of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s outstanding… What people are saying about the Prince Sadruddin biography by Diana Miserez - "This long needed biography seeks to do belated justice to a great humanitarian, who saw what was coming down the line and what would be needed..." Talking to Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin’s biography and Nicola Spafford Furey, VP of Earth Focus Foundation one day before the book launch event at the UN - Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin's biography and Nicola Spafford Furey, VP of Earth Focus Foundation reminiscing about Aga Khan and Ismailis ahead of Prince Sadruddin's book launch at the UN in Geneva. Prince Sadruddin’s Constellation of Honors: Decorations & Distinctions - While resources on the internet summarize world wide honors invested on Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan,… Contemplate: Prince Sadruddin’s inspiring 1975 address to the newly settled Ismaili community in Canada - Excerpts from Prince Sadruddin's address delivered to the Ismaili Muslim community on Wednesday, 22 January 1975 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Reflection: French Minister of Culture pays tribute to Prince Sadruddin as he decorates His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prince Amyn with honours - About 7 years ago, French Minister Frédéric Mitterrand paid an elaborate tribute to the Aga Khan family highlighting the contributions of Prince Sadruddin and the Noorani family. Retrospective: 1988 Interview with Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan - Following the historic agreement signed in Geneva on April 14, 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan, on May 11, the U.N. Secretary General appointed Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan to the position of Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan. eBook of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography now available worldwide - In parallel with English and French editions of the biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan made available in the UK and Switzerland, an eBook version is now available worldwide UN Library hosts book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on April 20 - Join us for this book launch and enjoy stories about Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s outstanding personality told by his friends and colleagues. French edition of a new book- Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humaniste et Visionnaire – a Biography by Diana Miserez - The biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan has been published very recently, in January in Great Britain and in March in Switzerland. Both language versions are shortly to feature in a launch at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. University of Bristol’s Alumni and Friends feature biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan by Diana Miserez - In this biography, Diana Miserez traces the life of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1966 to 1977, a humanitarian, visionary and environmentalist. New Publication: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary – a Biography by Diana Miserez - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary By Diana Miserez Publication Date: 28/01/2017 Format: Hardback… |
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