ID :
191612
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 17:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/191612
The shortlink copeid
International community not to leave Afghanistan alone after 2014: German envoy
Kabul (PPI) - The international community will not leave Afghanistan alone after 2014 when all foreign combat troops will leave the country or stay in supportive role, Michael Steiner, Germany’s special envoy for Afghanistan & Pakistan said here Monday.
“From all speakers we heard today in the International Contact Group (ICG), we heard that international community will stay with Afghanistan even after the security transition is completed,” German special envoy, Steiner, who also chaired two-day meeting of ICG in Afghan capital Kabul, said at joint press conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul and United States special envoy to Afghanistan & Pakistan Marc Grossman.
Steiner also said that international community will not repeat mistakes in the past. International community will stay engaged in Afghanistan in economic, development, capacity building, infrastructure but also in encouraging private investors.
“I think we have a realistic strategy and with this strategy we will cope with issues, challenges and especially as we have agreement with international community, the engagement of international community is not over in 2014 but continues effectively,” German diplomat stated. He said long term engagement would also focus on reconciliation process which must be Afghan-led and inclusive.
Grossman emphasized on Washington and international community’s commitment to the war-torn Afghanistan beyond 2014.
Rasoul said matters pertaining on-going peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, regional cooperation, transition of security charge from NATO-led troops to Afghan security forces and international community’s support to Afghanistan beyond 2014 were discussed at two-day ICG conference that concluded Monday.
The process of transferring security responsibility from over 140,000-storng NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghan national security forces will begin from July this year and will be completed by the end of 2014.
This is second ICG meeting attended by representatives from over 50 countries, international organizations held on Afghanistan since beginning this year. Previous ICG conference was held in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia, also chaired by Steiner early March.
President Barack Obama announced last week to begin US forces drawdown from Afghanistan in July. In first phase 10,000 troops will go back home by end of this year; while 23,000 more will be departed to home in 2012.
“From all speakers we heard today in the International Contact Group (ICG), we heard that international community will stay with Afghanistan even after the security transition is completed,” German special envoy, Steiner, who also chaired two-day meeting of ICG in Afghan capital Kabul, said at joint press conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul and United States special envoy to Afghanistan & Pakistan Marc Grossman.
Steiner also said that international community will not repeat mistakes in the past. International community will stay engaged in Afghanistan in economic, development, capacity building, infrastructure but also in encouraging private investors.
“I think we have a realistic strategy and with this strategy we will cope with issues, challenges and especially as we have agreement with international community, the engagement of international community is not over in 2014 but continues effectively,” German diplomat stated. He said long term engagement would also focus on reconciliation process which must be Afghan-led and inclusive.
Grossman emphasized on Washington and international community’s commitment to the war-torn Afghanistan beyond 2014.
Rasoul said matters pertaining on-going peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, regional cooperation, transition of security charge from NATO-led troops to Afghan security forces and international community’s support to Afghanistan beyond 2014 were discussed at two-day ICG conference that concluded Monday.
The process of transferring security responsibility from over 140,000-storng NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghan national security forces will begin from July this year and will be completed by the end of 2014.
This is second ICG meeting attended by representatives from over 50 countries, international organizations held on Afghanistan since beginning this year. Previous ICG conference was held in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia, also chaired by Steiner early March.
President Barack Obama announced last week to begin US forces drawdown from Afghanistan in July. In first phase 10,000 troops will go back home by end of this year; while 23,000 more will be departed to home in 2012.
