Kabul Conference encourages Afghanistan to assume increased responsibility
Finland took part in the international Afghanistan conference that was held in Kabul on Tuesday, 20 July. The Conference discussed measures to expedite the transfer of responsibility for development and security in Afghanistan to the Afghan government.
The Conference was co-chaired by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It was attended by representatives of more than 70 countries and several international organizations and by Afghan civil society leaders. The Conference was the first in a series of meetings dealing with the stabilization of Afghanistan.
The main themes on the Conference agenda were practices of good administration, social and economic development, security, and regional cooperation. The Afghan government has detailed development plans in place for all these themes, including target timetables for many practical measures.
President Karzai stressed that Afghanistan has entered a new stage in building a peaceful, prosperous and stable society.
The Conference participants placed special emphasis on the importance of anti-corruption measures and on the reinforcement of human rights and respect for the rule of law. Women’s key role in peace-building was also highlighted. Finland considers progress in these issues crucially important.
NATO and ISAF countries made it clear that the transfer of responsibility for security is not tied to any set timetable, but will depend on the capacities of the Afghan national police and army. However the aim is that Afghan security forces will be in full control of national security by 2014.
During the current year Finland has stepped up its support to Afghanistan in the areas of civilian crisis management, military crisis management, development cooperation and humanitarian aid.
Additional information: Counsellor Kimmo Pulkkinen, Head of the Finnish Delegation, tel. +358 40 578 4344, Johan Schalin, Head of the Unit for Asia and Oceania, tel. +358 40 776 5028