- Title: ROMANIA: NATO reaffirms long term commitment to Afghanistan
- Date: 4th April 2008
- Summary: (BN14) BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (APRIL 3, 2008) (REUTERS) PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS KARZAI, DE HOOP SCHEFFER AND BAN ON STAGE EXTERIOR OF PALACE
- Embargoed: 19th April 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Romania
- Country: Romania
- Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVAEM0YO0BR3TQUSD59R5FRMYI4E
- Story Text: Speaking at NATO's summit in Bucharest on Thursday (April 3), NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to Afghanistan.
The 40 nations of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission are due to issue a joint declaration at the summit which also confirms their long-term support for the country, according to a copy obtained by Reuters.
The declaration included the goal of helping train an 80,000-strong Afghan army by 2010 as part of what NATO hopes will allow domestic forces to gradually lead more security operations across the country.
Sharing the stage with Afghan president Hamid Karzai and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, Scheffer reiterated his support.
"Let there be no doubt ladies and gentlemen, after today's meeting, of NATO's long term commitment to Afghanistan. Let there also be no doubt of our support, of our full support for the United Nations and our willingness to work with the United Nations, in Afghanistan, but also beyond," he said.
Karzai thanked the international community, saying his country had been helped by their efforts.
"Afghanistan...is now better placed to take responsibility of its own security. I have announced Afghanistan will be ready by August to take responsibility for security in Kabul. Afghanistan will be a firm partner in the war against terror. Afghanistan will be firmly committed to the commitments that it has made for reform, for improved governance, for justice, for human rights, for democracy. And Afghanistan will continue to seek international assistance for the reconstruction of the country," he said.
Canada said on Thursday it would keep its troops in Afghanistan following an offer by France to bolster the NATO force there, freeing up U.S.
units to help Canadian soldiers in the violent south of the country.
The French pledge, coupled with planned contributions by other nations, proved enough for Canada to withdraw a threat to pull its 2,500 troops out of the 47,000-strong Western military alliance force in Afghanistan.
The French commitment coincides with increasing Western concern about violence in Afghanistan, with suicide attacks and car bombings on the rise.
The United States has been concerned about the commitment of some European countries, who in turn have been annoyed by public U.S. exhortations to send more troops into a war they believe Washington neglected because of its focus on Iraq.
Ban said it was absolutely necessary for the international community to continue to engage in Afghanistan.
"So that, and until, the Afghan government will be able to stand on their own," he said.
Washington has 31,000 troops in Afghanistan, with 19,000 serving in the NATO-led force; 3,500 Marines recently deployed to Afghanistan but the Pentagon has stressed they are there for only seven months and other allies will have to replace them.
That compares to the 100,000 to 120,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's occupation from 1979 to 1989, according to Russian military experts quoted in Russian language websites.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Bucharest on Thursday evening for a guest appearance at the summit, before talks in Russia with U.S.
President George W. Bush on Sunday (April 6).
He plans to focus on areas of agreement rather than discord at talks with NATO leaders on Friday (April 4), in efforts to keep ties with the West on a relatively even keel before he steps down. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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