Danidas chef, udenrigsråd Carsten Staur, holdt det danske indlæg på Afghanistan-donorkonferencen i Berlin onsdag og torsdag.
Her indlægget i den engelske originaltekst.
The Danish Government looks with satisfaction on the results achieved over the past 2 years – and under rather difficult conditions.
Denmark has supported the development of Afghanistan militarily as well as with humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance within the priority areas – education and development of rural areas.
We see the development of democratic institutions as an important part of Afghanistans development. In connection to the up-coming elections, Denmark has supported the voter registration with 1,8 million US dollar.
Today we further commit 1,5 million US dollar for the election proper.
Another focal area for Denmark is the promotion and protection of human rights.
We welcome the fact that the Constitution has institutionalised the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.
We welcome that the commission together with the United Nations has started the sensitive process of clarifying how to deal with reconciliation and past human rights abuses.
There is no doubt that Afghanistan in the future will be judged by the international community on its ability to improve the human rights situation, including the conditions and rights of women, and to promote good governance.
In order to be brief, I will limit my self to headlines only:
We find that long term planning is crucial for strategic use of scarce financial resources and welcomes the long-term plan ”Securing Afghanistans Future”.
We are in full accord with the work plan of the Afghan government stated in “The way ahead”.
At the Tokyo conference, Denmark made a multi-year pledge for 2002-06. We have accelerated disbursement on the request from Afghanistan Transitional Administration.
Denmark will continue to channel the vast majority of our assistance through either ARTF or the national budget. We have done this because we believe that the Afghan government and the international community in partnership can carry out the necessary public reforms – creating transparent and non-corrupt institutional structures.
We would also like to highlight the need for development of a comprehensive social policy that secure the most vulnerable groups in society.
We commend the government for the focus on this priority in “Securing Afghanistans Future” and we can assure you that we will remain committed to support this endeavour.
Later this year we expect to pledge a new multiyear commitment to Afghanistan for the 5-year period, 2005-09, so that the Afghan government can include our contribution in its long-term planning and initiation of investments.
