The Hague - Delegates at a 'big tent' conference on
Afghanistan in The Hague on Tuesday welcomed the United States' new
anti-Taliban strategy and vowed to support its reconstruction.
The new US approach was 'absolutely right', said German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, noting that Germany supported the
search for a regional solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
'We know that the stabilization of Afghanistan cannot succeed
unless the situation in neighbouring Pakistan is also taken into
account,' Steinmeier said.
Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said Europe was 'very
happy with the new American strategy focused on civilian crisis
management.'
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said
Afghanistan's neighbours also had 'a big responsibility' in ensuring
stability in the region and urged Iran to take 'a responsible
position.'
Iran is one of more than 70 countries attending the United Nations
conference in the Netherlands' administrative capital, co-hosted by
the Dutch government.
'Your presence here sends a powerful message of hope and
confidence to the Afghan people,' Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende said, stressing that his country supported efforts to
promote 'security for Afghans by the Afghans.'
US President Barack Obama has vowed to intensify the fight against
the Taliban and al-Qaeda in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
But his new approach also involves more money for civilian
reconstruction, increased training of the Afghan police and its army,
and wider consultations with players in the region, including foes
like Iran.
The European Commission on Tuesday vowed to provide an additional
60 million euros (80 million dollars) to Afghanistan, in part to
support the country's August elections.
EU member states are also under pressure to provide more soldiers
and trainers for Afghanistan's police and army - an issue due to be
discussed at a NATO summit taking place later this week.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who first called the
conference at a NATO meeting of March 5, said the gathering would
boost support for Afghanistan and re-affirm the need to eradicate the
Taliban insurgency.
She also confirmed that the US would be providing 40 million
dollars to support the Afghan elections, in which President Hamid
Karzai is vying for a new term in office.
'I commend US President Obama's new strategy, which emphasises
increased military commitment, strengthened institution building and
enhanced cooperation with the authorities in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, and in the wider region, in handling Afghanistan's
political and security needs,' said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Karzai, for his part, vowed to renew his government's efforts to
fight endemic corruption and illicit drug production.
'Afghanistan needs security, development, governance and
reconciliation', as well as 'true cooperation' from its neighbours,
Karzai said.
The conference was taking place amid tight security.
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