Foreign Minister Paet: Afghanistan Must Become Capable of Taking Over Security Responsibilities
28.01.2010
At the international Afghanistan conference in London, Foreign
Minister Urmas Paet said during the next few months a situation should
be created in which security responsibilities can gradually be handed
over to the Afghan authorities.
Paet stated that giving responsibility for the nation’s security to
the local authorities is an important step for the building of the
Afghan state. “We must also achieve agreements on the extent to which
the international community is able to support and finance Afghan
security forces,” he added.
At the London conference, Paet confirmed that Estonia will continue
to contribute to Afghanistan. “Estonia’s principle is that we will stay
in Afghanistan for as long as needed, but we will withdraw our troops
as soon as possible,” confirmed the foreign minister.
According to the foreign minister, Estonia is also planning on
contributing to Afghanistan’s Peace and Integration Trust Fund.
“Afghanistan’s job in the near future is to begin a reconciliation
process within society. President Karzai says that everyone who honours
Afghanistan’s constitution and is not linked to terrorist organisations
is welcome to participate,” said Paet.
The Estonian foreign minister stated that it is also essential to
include Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in the rebuilding process
more that previously.
The conference in London is taking place on the foreign ministerial
level and all 44 nations that contribute to the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghanistan’s close neighbours, the UN, the
European Union, and the World Bank have been invited to attend.
Within the framework of the conference, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
also has bilateral meetings scheduled with the foreign ministers of
Jordan, Australia, and Turkmenistan.
