Brussels, 05/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a press release from Moscow, where he is on a visit, the European Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten, welcomed the breakthrough secured that very morning at the Bonn Conference on the future of Afghanistan. This agreement should "provide the international community with a partner for providing reconstruction assistance", he commented, announcing that the European Commission was mobilising its Rapid Reaction Mechanism to provide immediate support for the Task Force led by the UN representative Brahimi and "an initial package of aid to the interim administration". Mr. Patten, moreover, recalled that the EU would host in Brussels, "before Christmas" ("in the week of 17 December, his spokesperson stipulated) the next meeting of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group. "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", he said.
The High Representative for Cfsp, Javier Solana noted in a declaration that this was above all a success for the Afghans themselves. "Afghan representatives in Bonn and in Kabul were right to place the future of their country above any other consideration", he said, also praising the work of Lakhdar Brahimi and Francesc Vendrell for the UN, considering that the fact that the meeting was held in Europe "is a reflection of our engagement for the future of Afghanistan".
As for Emma Bonino MEP, she observed that the entry of two women in the transition government in Kabul "marks the end of a taboo and represents a good starting point for a rapid restitution of all their civil rights for women in Afghanistan". Ms. Bonino thanks the more than 6,000 people from 103 countries who since 1 December have participated in the "World Day and non-violent initiative for the participation of women in the Afghan Government".