The Hague - From Germany to Iran and from Pakistan to
France, delegates at a United Nations conference in The Hague on
Tuesday welcomed the new Afghan strategy of US President Barack
Obama.
The 'big tent' meeting of more than 70 countries was also attended
by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who reiterated the
view of the Obama administration that Afghanistan should be
encouraged to reach out to moderate elements of the Taliban
insurgency.
'We must support efforts by the government of Afghanistan to
separate the extremists of al-Qaeda and the Taliban from those who
have joined their ranks not out of conviction, but out of
desperation,' Clinton told the conference.
Also at the conference was Iran's deputy foreign minister, Medhi
Akhundzadeh, who offered a cautious welcome to the United States' new
Afghan strategy by telling delegates that his country was 'fully
prepared' to help the country's reconstruction and to fight drug
trafficking.
'Welcoming the proposals for joint cooperation offered by the
countries contributing to Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran
is fully prepared to participate in the projects aimed at combating
drug trafficking and the plans in line with developing and
reconstructing Afghanistan,' Akhundzadeh said.
However, Akhundzadeh also reiterated Iran's long-standing
criticism of the massive presence of US soldiers in its
neighbourhood.
'The presence of foreign forces (in Afghanistan) has not improved
things in the country and it seems that an increase in the number of
foreign forces will prove ineffective too,' said Akhundzadeh in an
apparent reference to US President Barack Obama's decision to send
17,000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of delegates praised
Obama's new emphasis on reconstruction and on involving all key
regional players, and cherished the chance to be listened.
'The new administration in the US has taken the lead' in shifting
the focus of Afghan efforts on a comprehensive strategy, on civil
reconstruction and a regional solution, said Pakistani Foreign
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Russia's Sergei Lavrov pointed at the need to 'strengthen
relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,' while Turkey's Ali
Babacan said his country stood ready to increase trainers for the
Afghan security forces.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the new
US strategy 'absolutely right.'
Similar views were expressed by France and by UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon.
'I commend US President Obama's new strategy, which emphasises
increased military commitment, strengthened institution building and
enhanced cooperation with the authorities in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, and in the wider region, in handling Afghanistan's
political and security needs,' said Ban, the conference's co-host
with the Dutch government.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, for his part, vowed to renew his
government's efforts to fight endemic corruption and illicit drug
production.
'Afghanistan needs security, development, governance and
reconciliation', Karzai said.
'Without true cooperation from our neighbours, victory over
terrorism cannot be assured,' he said. There has been growing
awareness in recent years that many of the terrorists operating in
Afghanistan come from the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan.
Both the US and the European Union vowed to provide tens of
millions of additional money to help organize the country's August
elections, in which Karzai will vie for a new term in office.
'It is crucial to ensure that free, fair and credible elections
are held,' Karzai said.
The one-day conference was taking place amid tight security in the
Netherlands' administrative capital.
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