22/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Monday's General Affairs Council reaffirmed its long-term commitment for development and reconstruction in Afghanistan and welcomed Germany's decision to host a conference on 31 March and 1 April in Berlin on the theme "Afghanistan and the International Community - a partnership for the future", to be chaired by Afghanistan, Germany, Japan and the United States. The Irish Presidency is preparing a joint approach by Member States for this conference. The Council welcomed the "many positive developments that have taken place since the Bonn conference in 2001, in particular the recent signing of the Constitution and the preparations under way for fair and free elections".