April 12, 2008

President Hamid Karzai met Saturday with Bernard Kouchner, French Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Palace in Kabul. Among the issues discussed was France’s preparation for an international aid conference for Afghanistan that Paris will be hosting.

A big international conference is scheduled to be held in Paris in June to discuss different aspects of Afghanistan’s efforts for security and economic development. It was agreed in the meeting that Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Spanta and President’s Senior Economic Advisor, Professor Eshaq Naderi work out with the French government on the details of the upcoming donor conference.

Minister Kouchner said he was happy that his country is hosting such a big conference, where challenges and progress made in Afghanistan would be assessed and commitments be made.

Mr. Kouchner reaffirmed his country’s continued military and economic support to Afghanistan.

President Karzai thanked the people and the government of France for the assistance they have made to Afghanistan and said it was another important role that France is playing for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.