Statement on Outcomes of London Conference on Afghanistan
(U.S. cites OSCE's commitment to intensify engagement with Afghanistan)
United States Mission to the OSCE
Statement on the Outcomes of the London Conference on Afghanistan
As delivered by Chargé d'Affaires Carol Fuller
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
February 25, 2010
The United States shares the views of others here that the London Conference on Afghanistan was successful in demonstrating the international community's continuing support for Afghanistan and in highlighting the importance of strong Afghan leadership.
We welcome the conference's emphasis on the importance of regional cooperation; greater efforts to combat terrorism, violent extremism, and narcotics trafficking; and enhanced efforts to tackle corruption and promote good governance, human rights, and economic development.
Toward these ends, we see continued opportunities for OSCE engagement with Afghanistan where the OSCE has unique expertise. This includes, in particular, efforts to improve the security and management of Afghanistan's northern border, counter illicit drugs trafficking, and improve the conduct of elections. We also hope to see more Afghans participate in OSCE-sponsored workshops, seminars, and conferences, which offer opportunities to make Afghans more familiar with OSCE norms and best practices across all three dimensions.
To that end, we add our thanks to the Chairmanship for the important role played by Kazakhstan's Embassy in Kabul in facilitating the participation of 35 Afghans in OSCE-organized counter-narcotics training in Dushanbe. We also thank the government of Japan for financing the project and the government of Tajikistan for hosting the training.
We welcome the Chairmanship's stated commitment to intensifying OSCE engagement with Afghanistan and look forward to continued efforts in this regard. We remain convinced that the OSCE could be even more effective if the organization had the flexibility to undertake certain activities inside Afghanistan, particularly those related to border security and training.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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