NEHERLANDS: The United Nations Secretary Genera Ban Ki Moon arrives in Netherlands for UN conference

Record ID: 562538

  • Title: NEHERLANDS: The United Nations Secretary Genera Ban Ki Moon arrives in Netherlands for UN conference
  • Date: 31st March 2009
  • Summary: ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (MARCH 30, 2009) (REUTERS) UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON'S PLANE TAXIING ON TARMAC DELEGATION WALKING TO THE PLANE MAXIM VERHAGEN, DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER WAITING FOR BAN KI MOON PLANE DOORS OPENING BAN KI MOON WALKING DOWN AND SHAKING HANDS WITH VERHAGEN POLICE LOOKING ON VERHAGEN AND BAN KI MOON WAIVING TO THE CAMERAS/ BAN KI MOON WALKS TO THE CAR MOTORCADE LEAVING THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS (MARCH 30, 2009) (REUTERS) CONVOY OF PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN HAMID KARZAI ARRIVING GUARD OF HONOUR OUTSIDE RESIDENCE OF DUTCH PRIME MINISTER JAN PETER BALKENENDE BALKENENDE SPEAKING TO DELEGATES CONVOY OF KARZAI ARRIVING KARZAI GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE/BEING GREETED BY BALKENENDE GUARD OF HONOUR OUTSIDE RESIDENCE OF BALKENENDE (SOUNDBITE) DUTCH PRIME MINISTER JAN PETER BALKENENDE SAYING: "The conference is also a clear sign of the commitment of the international community to the future of Afghanistan, and I am convinced, that it will be a successful conference." GUARD OF HONOUR OUTSIDE RESIDENCE OF BALKENENDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN HAMID KARZAI SAYING: "The Netherlands has been a country, indeed very very kind to Afghanistan. You've given us all that you have; life and resources! No country, no people can ask for more..." EXTERIOR OF RESIDENCE OF BALKENENDE VARIOUS OF MEETING OF KARZAI AND BALKENENDE SPEAKING INSIDE RESIDENCE EXTERIOR OF RESIDENCE OF BALKENENDE
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA76ZXX7AG3JLX0HG3QZ26Y2RAB
  • Story Text: The United Nations Secretary General has arrived for a UN-backed conference on Afghanistan and was on his way to meeting with the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai for a meeting of minds that was to include Iranian and Pakistan delegations. Russia and China, who also share borders with Afghanistan, will be represented.
    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived at Rotterdam airport on Monday (March 30) for a high level meeting of 90 countries to find ways of stabilising Afghanistan which was first called by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
    Dutch media said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific affairs Mahdi Akhoundzadeh would attend but Tehran had no comment.
    NATO, the OECD, European Union, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are all sending delegates.
    President Barack Obama unveiled a new strategy on Friday which combines extra troops for Afghanistan, funds for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a renewed focus on targeting al Qaeda militants on the Afghan/Pakistan border.
    At the Hague Afghan President Hamid Karzai was greeted by Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

    "The conference is also a clear sign of the commitment of the international community to the future of Afghanistan, and I am convinced, that it will be a successful conference," said Balkenende outside his residence.
    Nearly 90 countries are participating, including delegates from Russia, China and Pakistan, although their representatives were not yet known.
    Dutch media said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific affairs Mahdi Akhoundzadeh would attend. Tehran had no comment.
    NATO, the OECD, European Union, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are all sending delegates.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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