From: EurasiaDigest (digest@eurasianet.org)
Date: Wed Feb 01 2006 - 11:44:58 EST
BLAIR POINTS TO DRUG, SECURITY CHALLENGES IN AFGHANISTAN...
British Prime Minister Tony Blair told participants in a two-day conference on Afghanistan co-hosted by Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 31 January 2006) on 31 January that while Afghanistan "faces immense challenges," the country has made "tremendous progress" since late 2001, when the Taliban regime was ousted from power. Blair highlighted the illicit-drug problem and the continuing security challenges facing Afghanistan and pledged to send British forces to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. He also committed more than $800 million over the next three years to Afghan reconstruction. Blair said the international community's assistance to Afghanistan aids not only Afghans but also helps to guard against extremism in the donor countries. The London conference is intended to help Afghanistan implement a five-year plan by creating conditions for sustainable economic growth and development; strengthening state institutions and civil society; combating the re
maining terrorist threat and meeting the challenge of counternarcotics; rebuilding capacity and infrastructure; reducing poverty; and meeting basic human needs. AT
...AS AFGHAN LEADER OUTLINES COUNTRY'S NEEDS
President Hamid Karzai told a news conference in London on 31 January that, having successfully completing the steps outlined in the Bonn agreement of December 2001, Afghanistan is committed to a compact based on four pillars: security; governance, rule of law, and human rights; economic and social development; and counternarcotics, Radio Free Afghanistan reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 31 January 2006). Karzai predicted that the total eradication of illegal drugs from his country will take at least a decade. He estimated that his country requires an annual state budget of $4 billion. The World Bank places Afghanistan's revenue-to-GDP ratio among the lowest in the world, at 5 percent. As such, the country would remain heavily dependent on foreign aid and assistance. AT
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