Brussels, 08/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - Returning from her visit to Kabul and the north-east of the country, the Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, has spoken of the short and medium-term stakes for Afghanistan. With the country preparing to elect its representatives at the Parliamentary and provincial elections of 18 September, the Commissioner stressed the need to define a "post-Bonn process", and announced that a conference on this subject would be held in January 2006, probably in New York or London, even though the issue remains to be defined. The political and financial aspects will be discussed with the donor countries, she said, describing it as a "moral obligation" for the EU to continue to make its contribution.
"Afghanistan has made substantial progress" on the road towards peace and economic reconstruction, and its political transition has been "a success", noted Ms Ferrero-Waldner, highlighting the role played by the EU. Between 2001 and 2006, the period covered by the Bonn process, the EU made more than a billion EUR available in aid to Afghanistan, exceeding the sum it promised to make available in Tokyo in 2002. The EU has been present in the reconstruction of infrastructure (roads, electricity, irrigation, and others), health care (the EU took part in the reconstruction of 120 clinics, and it is contribution represents 20% of all health care to the Afghan population), and with its support to administrative capacities.
Before making any commitments for the future, the Commission hopes to carry out a "clear impact analysis" of the aid granted by the Commission and by the Member States of the EU. She feels that future aid must, however, be granted as a priority to the healthcare sector and education (to include high-quality training), and to the fight against drugs and corruption (by dint of planting crops other than poppies and improving the salaries for the police forces and government employees). More attention should also be paid to respecting the rule of law and justice, because there is too much "impunity" in the country, she noted.
Despite the risks in the south of the country, the situation could be "far worse" in terms of security, Ms Ferrero-Waldner added, pointing out that the Italian radical Emma Bonino, head of the European mission to observe the elections, remained "confident overall". In answer to a question on the possibility of warlords being elected to the Parliament, the Commissioner explained "that we are not yet there", even though this is a "risk" inherent in the inclusive process decided upon by the Afghan authorities to accept candidates. Shortly after the elections, the EU and Afghanistan must put the finishing touches to a political statement "to move forward bilaterally", covering the above-mentioned future subjects, and also disarmament and the fight against terrorism, Ms Ferrero-Waldner added.