German Foreign Minister Says 2011 is "Crucial Year" for Afghanistan

From "This Week in Germany":


The fact that the international community had agreed on a process of handing over responsibility for security with the Afghan Government did not mean “that Germany would not continue to support Afghanistan”, ForeignMinister Guido Westerwelle stressed during his visit to Kabul on January 9.

“2011 will be a crucial year for Afghanistan, for 2011 will see the start of the process of handing over responsibility for security region by region,” said Westerwelle at a press conference following talks with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul. It was important, he went on to say, that this process “is organized in a sound, responsible and – above all – sustainable manner.”

During his inauguration speech in 2009, President Karzai declared that his aim was for the Afghans to assume full responsibility for security by 2014. The Federal Foreign Minister expressed his strong support for this goal during his visit.

German support


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Foreign Minister Westerwelle with Afghan Foreign Minister Rassoul
(© photothek / Trutschel )
The Minister stated that Germany was supporting this process in many different ways – for example by training the police force and security forces in Afghanistan, by developing infrastructure and carrying out projects in the healthcare and education spheres. And, not least, by assisting the political process of reconciliation.

The cancellation of Afghanistan’s outstanding debts to Germany was also a “contribution towards the country’s economic stability, and thus also towards its political stability and towards the process of handing over responsibility for security to the Afghan authorities”, said the Federal Foreign Minister.

Contribution towards international security

By doing so, Germany was not only helping Afghanistan and the Afghan people but also people in Germany: “For we are bolstering security in the world,” stated Westerwelle.

In addition to the country’s security situation and economic development, human rights issues such as the protection of minorities or good governance were also on the agenda. As well as Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Rassoul, Westerwelle also met President Karzai and National Security Adviser Spanta in Kabul.