West pledges continued support to Afghanistan
YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday announced the United States was ending a freeze on hundreds of millions of dollars in development funds for Afghanistan, amid financial reforms. "The United States is pleased to announce we will be joining other partners in resuming financial disbursements to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF)," Clinton told a conference on Afghanistan in Bonn, Germany. U.S. officials said the United States took its cue from the International Monetary Fund’s approval last month of a new loan for Afghanistan, after a year of difficult talks stalled by the massive Kabul Bank scandal.In her five minute speech, the chief US diplomat said the Bonn blueprint for progress in Afghanistan, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO combat troops in 2014, is based on the principle of "mutual accountability." The Bonn conference is focused on the transfer of security responsibilities from international forces to Afghan security forces during the next three years, long-term prospects for international aid and a possible political settlement with the Taliban to ensure the country’s viability beyond 2014. About 100 countries and international organizations were represented among the 1,000 conference delegates, including some 60 foreign ministers. "Your continued solidarity, your commitment and support will be crucial so that we can consolidate our gains and continue to address the challenges that remain. We will need your steadfast support for at least another decade," Afghan President Hamid Karzai said. Speaking at the conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said a secure Afghanistan would be of great importance for the region’s security. While remembering Turkey hosted the Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan last month, Davutoglu said, "At the Istanbul Conference, regional countries gave a very strong message of commitment to a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan in a secure, stable and prosperous region." "The region not only gave a resounding message of commitment but also made it clear that it will own, lead and develop the efforts for enhanced cooperation by adopting the ‘Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan.’ I am pleased that the international community also strongly supported the regionally owned and led Istanbul Process," he said. "Turkey’s commitment to Afghanistan is for the long-term."