31 January 2006
The Prime Minister has met President Karzai and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a major international conference on the redevelopment of Afghanistan.
Addressing the event, Tony Blair said its main purpose was to "help the Afghan people to build the stable, prosperous, democratic future that they want".
While Afghanistan still faces immense challenges, the PM said, it was important to remember the great progress it had made in terms of the "liberty and freedom that people of Afghanistan enjoy" that previously they were denied.
Over 60 delegations are attending the two-day conference to agree a plan for the next five years of rebuilding and stabilisation in the country.
Tony Blair said one of the major reasons for the event was to sign the "London Compact" which pledges to help Afghanistan in the future. The document agrees to further tackle security issues, extend good government and promote development.
The conference looked at how to tackle the opium trade which President Karzai says is directly linked with terrorism.
Also attending was US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice who pledged continued support for the war-torn country.
delicious
digg
facebook
