Foreign Minister Riekstins emphasizes Afghanistan should soon take over responsibility for security in country [01 Feb 2010]

On 28 January at the London Conference on Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins spoke about the decision by the Government of Latvia to support civilian engagement and further implementation of development co-operation measures in Afghanistan. Mr Riekstins also indicated that the international community, including Latvia, expects to receive reciprocal commitment from the leadership of Afghanistan that is turned into effort to gradually ensure security and stability in the country.

The commitment of Latvia will hold true as long as it will be needed to ensure that the Government of Afghanistan possesses the capability to take over full responsibility of security in places where our units operate, as well as in the whole country. "As long as it will be needed" should not mean indefinite and uncritical.

"The immediate steps at the top of the priority list should aim at the transition of security responsibility to Afghan leadership. Building of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is well under way and yet more efforts and time are needed. Nevertheless, we expect to see a growing rate of well trained and functional indigenous units," Minister Riekstins noted.

Minister Riekstins accentuated Latvia's contribution to stabilising the security situation through the increase of the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces. Latvia has deployed personnel as part of the Operational Monitoring and Liaison Team to train the Afghan National Army units in Kunar and Nuristan provinces in the East of Afghanistan. At the same time, projects are implemented to strengthen the capacity of Afghan National Police. Mr Riekstins emphasised that Latvia proceeds with its engagement in ISAF security tasks in a northern province of Faryab and in the EUPOL Afghanistan mission.

The Latvian contingent in the ISAF operation is 175 military. Currently, one Latvian police officer participates in the EUPOL, but in the nearest future our civilian participation in the mission will be reinforced by additional two policemen.

The aim of the London Conference on Afghanistan was to address future assignments for the international community and the Afghan government. The event was opened by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The first half of this year will see a conference in Kabul involving a discussion on the Afghanistan agreement, the Afghan Security Forces, the institution building, economic development and the reconciliation in society.

The Communication of the Conference in English: http://ow.ly/11ohQ

(End of text)