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US, Germany call on Karzai to reform government
Nov 5, 2009, 20:32 GMT
Washington - The United States and Germany on Thursday called on recently re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai to introduce reforms in his government to curtail corruption.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasized that Karzai's government must be more transparent and improve the lives of Afghans.
The United States and Germany will work with other countries to develop common objectives in Afghanistan and ways to measure the progress of the US- and NATO-led mission. Germany has more 4,000 soldiers in Afghanistan.
'What is important is that we develop our strategy together in close consultation,' Westerwelle said through a translator during his first visit to the United States since taking office last week.
Karzai was declared the winner of the election after his rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, dropped out of the race ahead of a second round of voting that had been scheduled for this weekend.
The United States and its NATO partners have deep concerns that the rife corruption in Karzai's government undermines its support from the people and therefore threatens the mission in the war-torn country.
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