Press Releases

Plassnik: “Afghanistan in the next five years: independent with international support”

Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik is representing the EU at the International Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan in London.

Foreign Minister Plassnik is taking part in the International Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan in London today, 31 January. The aim of the conference is to renew the international community’s partnership with Afghanistan for the next five years. Around 50 countries will be taking part in the conference, which was opened by Prime Minister Blair, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Plassnik, who had a meeting with Hamid Karzai, praised the progress made in Afghanistan since 2002. During her conference speech as EU President of the Council, she also made special reference to the great efforts the EU has made over the past four years in order to support Afghanistan on the path towards democracy and stability. Since 2002, the EU has provided assistance of the order of around EUR 3.1 billion.

Minister Plassnik underlined the EU’s willingness to continue their commitment to rebuild Afghanistan. “The conference is a clear sign that the international community attaches great importance to further development in Afghanistan and the destiny of the Afghan people. It is evidence of our determination to support Afghanistan as it seeks to become a stable, secure and democratic state”, said the Minister.

“The conference in London has provided a sound basis on which to overcome the many challenges that still remain in Afghanistan”, she stated. “Afghanistan is entering a new phase in which it will become increasingly important to strengthen Afghan “ownership” and enable the state-run institutions which have been formed in the interim to carry out their tasks efficiently on behalf of the Afghan people.”

With the presentation of the National Development Strategy in London, the Afghan Government has demonstrated its will to continue the reforms and become more independent.

The main result of the conference in London is the acceptance of the “Afghanistan Compact”, which will represent the basis of the partnership between the international community and Afghanistan over the next five years. Herein, the Afghan Government undertakes to systematically carry out the necessary reforms on the basis of specific objectives and a national development strategy. In return, the international community has agreed to offer Afghanistan further active support with its rebuilding and reform process.