EU, Germany urge Kabul government to build trust, fight corruption

Nov 9, 2009, 16:06 GMT

New York - The European Union and Germany on Monday spearheaded a draft resolution calling on the Karzai government to build trust and fight corruption in Afghanistan.

The UN General Assembly was considering the draft negotiated by Germany during a session on the situation in Afghanistan, calling in clear terms for a 'renewed relationship of trust' with the Afghan people by President Hamid Karzai.

Karzai was declared the winner last week in a second runoff four- year term after his opponent withdrew, but was bruised by widespread fraud in the first round of vote in August.

'We should continue to encourage all political actors in Afghanistan to respect the rule of law and to continue to take responsibility for the stability and unity of Afghanistan,' said German Ambassador Martin Ney.

Ney welcomed Karzai's pledge to institute reforms and fight corruption.

Swedish UN Ambassador Anders Liden, current chair of the EU at UN headquarters in New York, urged renewed international support for Afghanistan.

The draft supports plans to hold an international conference on Afghanistan next year, and stresses the need for close cooperation to fight the Taliban and Al-Qaeda as well as other extremist and criminal groups in Afghanistan.

The International Security Assistance Forces, composed of NATO and troops from countries, have been providing security for the Kabul government while the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom coalition has been fighting extremist forces in Afghanistan.