International Conference on Afghanistan
Media release
20 July 2010
The International Conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is being held in Kabul today, Tuesday 20 July.
This is the first Conference on Afghanistan to be held in Afghanistan. Australia is represented at the Conference by Australia's Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ric Smith AO PSM.
At the Conference, the Afghan Government is presenting its plans for improved development, governance and security for Afghanistan. This represents an important stage in the process of transition to Afghan authority.
The Conference is considering progress towards meeting the commitments made at the London Conference in January this year. Australia welcomes the Afghan Government's renewed commitment to the undertakings given by President Karzai in London, namely to rebuild Afghanistan, to foster reconciliation, to tackle corruption and narcotics, and to improve governance.
The Conference will also set out the Kabul Process and a commitment to a secure and prosperous Afghanistan which sets out the steps for transitioning to Afghan authority.
As part of the Kabul Process, Australia, together with our international partners in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), will support Afghanistan's objective that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014.
Australia will continue to support efforts to create the conditions necessary to allow for this transition, where Afghan security forces are capable of maintaining security. This transition process is conditions based and subject to a process of assessment over time.
Australia continues to focus on our core mission to train and mentor the 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Uruzgan Province, to enable the ANA to ultimately assume responsibility for security in that province. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has previously advised the Government that on the basis of progress to date, Australia should be able to transition the main security responsibility for Uruzgan to the ANA in two to four years, based on an assessment of conditions on the ground and consistent with today's Kabul Conference.
The conflict in Afghanistan will not be ended by military force alone.
Australia, together with other members of the international community, will continue to work alongside the Afghan Government as it assumes responsibility not only for the delivery of improved security, but for the economic and social development of Afghanistan.
Australia is making a substantial contribution to international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, through our significant troop commitment, our development assistance, and our contribution to enhanced policing.
Australia's development assistance and reconstruction in Afghanistan is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Afghan institutions to govern more effectively and to provide basic services for the Afghan people.
It is vital that, collectively, we work together to bolster the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Afghan Government in the eyes of the Afghan people at all levels. For its part, Australia is aligning its assistance with the priorities outlined by the Afghan Government today under the Afghan National Development Strategy. We are committed to channelling 50 per cent of our development assistance through Afghan programs, consistent with the undertakings at the London Conference and provided the necessary management and reforms are in place. In this regard, we are assisting the Afghan Government to strengthen its capacity to deliver services and increase its accountability.
A long-term solution in Afghanistan also requires political dialogue and, ultimately, reconciliation between the people of Afghanistan. The international community, including Afghanistan's neighbours, has a role to play in supporting such efforts.
Australia welcomes the Afghan Government's Peace and Reintegration Plan. In order to be successful the reintegration process must be Afghan-led. The development of a detailed plan is an important step in Afghan ownership of the reintegration process. The Conference today has made significant progress in this respect.
At the London Conference in January, Australia publicly committed $25 million to the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund to assist the Afghan Government's work towards reintegration and reconciliation.
Special Envoy Ric Smith today advised the Conference of the release of a first tranche of $6 million for the Fund from the $25 million previously committed.
Australia's contribution is subject to the establishment of appropriate governance arrangements and a role for substantial donors like Australia in the administration of the funding mechanisms.
The first tranche will be delivered through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), which is managed by the World Bank.
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