Meta promises more troops for Afghanistan

TIRANA, July 21 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta took part at the International Conference in Kabul, which follows the work of the London Conference on Afghanistan.
The Kabul International Conference was organized by the Afghani government in cooperation with the UN; it was attended by high political representatives from over 70 countries, international and regional organizations and financial institutions. Among those attending from International Community was U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Foreign Minister of Italy Franco Frattini, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
It is the first time that a Conference of Foreign Ministers is held in Kabul and it is hosted by the Afghani Government. After the conference, the International Community and the Government of Afghanistan expressed their shared commitment to the Afghan people, as a sign of the reinvigoration of their partnership for peace, security, prosperity and democracy in Afghanistan.
Meta reassured of Albania’s contribution to maintaining security in Afghanistan, the efforts for reconciliation and reconstruction as well as the phases to be followed for a balanced transition.
He also said Tirana was ready to add more troops in Afghanistan and also offer other assistance to the Asian country.
He said that the International Community should help, facilitate and incentive the peace process through the building of civilian institutions, training and education, the upgrading of indispensable physical infrastructure.
He said that Albania’s contribution in Afghanistan, as part of the International Security Assistance Force, started in 2002, “being fully aware that denying terrorist groups a safe haven and contributing for a stable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, would be a long-term task.”
Since then, the Albanian Armed Forces have deployed on the ground a total number of 1,060 military personnel, 251 of whom are currently deployed in sensitive areas of the country.
Aware of the challenges ahead, and in compliance with our obligations as a new member of NATO, Tirana has decided to increase its ISAF participation with an additional Albanian contingent of 85 soldiers. Of those, 44 will be combat troops that will engage in dangerous combat operations.
Tirana also will provide 100 scholarships for Afghan students and will deploy 30 experts in the framework of Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams, Provisional Reconstruction Teams and the NATO Training Mission to Afghanistan.
Also, recently, the member countries of the Adriatic Charter, a very successful initiative of five Western Balkans countries and the United States, have agreed to explore the possibility of forming a joint team of military trainers to operate in Afghanistan, said Meta.
“As modest as these figures may seem, they provide a contribution to the overall goals of the International Community in helping to bring lasting peace and prosperity to Afghanistan,” the minister said.