EUHR Solana's Speech at the International Conference on Afghanistan (Berlin)

Minister Abdullah, Minister Fischer, Dear Friends,

As Minister Cowen and other speakers before me, I would also like to stress the progress made so far in Afghanistan, where the Afghan people are starting to take control of the development of their country. The EU will continue to foster partnership with the people of Afghanistan and support their efforts to achieve a peaceful and stable country. Today, I would like to briefly comment on three elements related to security.

Firstly, I want to emphasise that the European Union's Member States are committed to their significant contribution to the ISAF, the Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to the build up of the Afghanistan National Army and the police. The European Union firmly supports the expansion of the international security presence in Afghanistan through the deployment and evolving role of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

Secondly, I wish to draw your attention to the role of local leaders. Conflict between rival factions and ethnic groups threaten reconciliation and stabilisation efforts. It is necessary that the state of Afghanistan gain full control of all armed forces in the country. The reform of the Ministries of Defence and Interior as well as the National Security Directorate should also lead to ethnically and politically balanced services. The build-up of police, customs and judiciary as truly national, multi-ethnic institutions are of equal importance.

The European Union is firmly committed to supporting the efforts to strengthen the writ of the central government across the country. The European Union is solidly represented and its Special Representative also works closely with the UN Special Envoy and all the international representation on these issues.

Finally, I wish to underline that full success in Afghanistan will also heavily depend on the cooperation and the constructive role of its neighbours. Regional stability will be endangered, if traditional alliances of outside actors with ethnic leaders is not yielded in favour of the Afghan Transitional Authority. The Good Neighbourly Relations Declarations signed between Afghanistan and its neighbours constitutes a very positive step in this direction. The EU will contribute to the development of this partnership.

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• Commissioner Patten's Speech at the International Conference on Afghanistan (Berlin)  (31/3/2004)
• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)