ISAF Foreign Ministers back up Afghan solidarity with action

[Swede]

On 4 December, Foreign Ministers of ISAF troop contributing nations met to discuss key priorities for Afghanistan, namely protecting Afghan people, building Afghan security capacity, and facilitating governance and development. They adopted a common declaration, agreeing on the main principles guiding ISAF’s support of reintegration and reconciliation processes.

Following General McChrystal’s August 2009 assessment of the situation in Afghanistan and this week’s announcement by President Barack Obama on the sending of 30 000 additional US troops, ISAF Foreign Ministers reiterated their collective objective to hand over lead security responsibility to the Afghan forces, starting next year, when conditions allow. To this end, nations pledged to invest more in training, equipping and sustaining the Afghan National Security Forces, through the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.

Allies and Partners adopted a declaration outlining a new approach for Afghanistan in which the protection of the Afghan people is given a particular focus. In support of this approach, at least 25 Allies and Partners committed around 7 000 troops for 2010, with the possibility of more contributions to come.

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-5A03EF56-74E21280/natolive/news_59935.htm?