Luxembourg, 14/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg, on Monday, the Council adopted conclusions on the situation in Afghanistan. It confirms the EU's commitment to make a "substantial" contribution to the reconstruction of the country and welcomes the progress accomplished by the provisional administration under President Karzai.
The Council above all welcomes the reform proposals and the definition of reference criteria for assessing progress concerning the national budget, presented by the provisional government. It stresses, however, that there are still many challenges to be faced including the elaboration and the ratification of a new Constitution that meets international standards, mainly with regards human rights and rule of law. The Council recalls the commitments taken by the Afghan authorities on holding free elections in June 2004, and insists on the importance of the reform process in the fields of security, administration, justice, finance and the economic and social fields.
The Council, moreover, stresses how urgent it is to fight against the production and the illegal trafficking of drugs. Ministers announce their major security concerns and stress that lasting peace depends on security outside Kabul and the setting in place of an effective multi-ethnic national army, a police force and border guards that are operational, reform of the justice system, demobilisation, disarmament and the reintegration of former combatants.