The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-08-16

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Handover of the Country's Security to Afghan Forces by 2014

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A major conference on Afghanistan, with the participation of at least 70 countries and international organizations has endorsed President Hamid Karzai's goal that Afghan forces should lead security operations across the country by 2014.Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas represented Greece at the conference. In his intervention, he placed special importance and particular symbolism in the support for the country to belong to Afghan people.

International Community Endorses Karzai's Goal for Security Handover

The final communiqué from the conference said:

"The international community expressed its support for the president of Afghanistan's objective that the Afghan national security forces should lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014."

In the presence of over 70 representatives of donor countries and international representatives, Karzai stated determined to assume the country's security by 2014.

Karzai said the international community had committed enough money to see Afghanistan through the next three years and called for greater control of the multi-billion-dollar aid budget for his impoverished country.The conference urged Kabul to make reforms to strengthen public financial management and reduce corruption, saying at least 50% of development aid would be channeled into the government's budget within two years. Previously, only 20% of 40 billion dollars of pledged international aid had been routed through the budget, leading to corruption among the rest.

According to the plan, 36.000 Taliban militants should handover guns by 2015. The cost of the 5-year program mounts to almost 784 million dollars.

Sources: Reuters, ÁNA-ÌPA

Related News: BBC: Karzai calls for Afghan security handover by 2014

News item: 38684

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