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Commissioner Patten welcomes outcome of Bonn talks on Afghanistan

EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten issued the following statement in Brussels yesterday:

"I welcome the breakthrough reached…at the UN-sponsored talks in Bonn on the future of Afghanistan. I congratulate UN Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi and his team, as well as the Afghan leaders on achieving this important step towards the stabilization of Afghanistan.

"This is an important - and long-awaited - day for the Afghan people. It should lay the foundation for a stable, peaceful and democratic future for the country and will provide the international community with a partner for providing reconstruction assistance. The European Commission is mobilizing its Rapid Reaction Mechanism to provide immediate support for the task force led by UNSR Brahimi and for an initial package of support to the interim administration to help it to address the formidable challenges it faces.

"We are also committed to making a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the country after the devastating effects of twenty years of war. The European Union will host the next meeting of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group in Brussels before Christmas, where we hope that donors will identify a number of activities which will demonstrate an immediate peace dividend to a people who have suffered too much and for too long."

Europeans Support EU Funding of Afghanistan Reconstruction

According to a Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Commission's statistical office, 70% of Europeans believe the EU should provide "massive" funding for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The survey (conducted between November 13 and 23, 2001, using a sample of 15,000 EU residents) also found:

• over 80% of those polled said that they were following events "closely" or "very closely", primarily on television.
• 60% of those surveyed believe that the European response to this crisis should be at both the European and member state level
• Over 85% of those interviewed also expected the EU to take preventive action to ensure that the conflict does not extend to other countries.

Further, over 85% of those interviewed said the Arab world could not be judged on the basis of terrorist acts committed by a few individuals.

Press Contact: Christopher Matthews (212) 371-3804, ext 134

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• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)
• Commissioner Patten's Speech on 'Afghanistan, the road to Bonn' at the EP (12/2/2004)
• Commissioner Patten's speech on Afghanistan Strategic Forum (17/3/2003)
• Comissioner Patten's Speech on "Afghanistan, one year after the Bonn Agreement" (15/1/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Afghanistan  (6/12/2002)
• EU assistance to Afghanistan in 2002 (2/12/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Afghanistan (13/9/2002)
• Commissioner Patten's Speech on Afghanistan at EP (4/9/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council on Afganistan (26/3/2002)
• Afghanistan Reconstruction - EU approves funds for Initial Recovery Programme (26/2/2002)
• Commissioner Patten's speech on Reconstructing Afghanistan (20/2/2002)
• The EU's contribution to Afghanistan's reconstruction process (22/1/2002)
• EU to co-chair Afghanistan Reconstruction Steering Group (18/1/2002)
• EU humanitarian operations in Afghanistan (21/12/2001)