Foreign Secretary welcomes Bonn blueprint for long-term engagement with Afghanistan
The Bonn Conference on Afghanistan established a blueprint for the international community's long term engagement with Afghanistan beyond 2014.
Speaking after the international conference the Foreign Secretary said:
“Today, in Bonn, the UK reiterated, together with over 100 international delegations, the international community’s long term commitment to Afghanistan. We will not abandon Afghanistan: the sacrifices made over the last ten years have not been made in vain. Today’s conference has sent a clear signal that Afghanistan’s friends will continue to support her long after international combat troops have left the country.
“I am pleased to be able to underline the strength of the UK’s relationship with Afghanistan by announcing that President Karzai will visit the United Kingdom immediately after the conference to sign the UK’s own long term partnership agreement with Afghanistan.
“This conference has established a blueprint for the international community’s long term engagement with Afghanistan beyond 2014.
“We have committed ourselves to provide economic support to Afghanistan for the decade after 2014, until Afghanistan becomes economically self-sustainable. Alongside this, the Afghan Government has committed itself to reinvigorating the progress on key development priorities, including governance, anti-corruption and rule of law.
“We have also agreed to produce a clear plan for the future funding for the Afghan National Security Forces in advance of the NATO Chicago summit next May. This will ensure the ANSF can tackle challenges to Afghanistan’s security beyond 2014.
“We have agreed a clear set of guiding principles for the reconciliation process and its outcomes. This builds on the recent Traditional Loya Jirga and the agreement there to an inclusive, representative peace process. This process has received strong international backing today.
“The Afghan Government has promised to uphold all its international human rights obligations. This is a reassuring step. Afghanistan has also undertaken to protect women’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
“We have a clear framework for cooperation between the Afghan Government and international community. We look forward to building on the commitments agreed today to see the emergence of a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan.”