International Conference on Afghanistan future

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-01-2009 08:36

Nearly 90 countries and groups have met in the Hague for an international conference on Afghanistan. Participants include Afghanistan's neighbors and all nations contributing troops to the NATO-led international force fighting Taliban insurgents. They discussed ways to boost security and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Tuesday's meeting sought to inject more vigor into efforts for Afghan reconstruction, economic development and peacekeeping.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country needed international and regional cooperation to tackle terrorism.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands  with United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon at the start of a U.N.-backed conference on  Afghanistan in The Hague March 31, 2009. Karzai  told the international conference with delegates  from Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday that Afghanistan  needed regional cooperation to tackle terrorism. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Hamid Karzai said, "As well as fighting any terrorist present on the Afghan soil decisively, we must no longer tolerate any sanctuaries, networks and support bases. We must isolate, reform or remove those entities that may be used for extremism."

UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon, who chaired the meeting, says 2009 is a critical year for Afghanistan.

Ban Ki-Moon said, "There is a real potential to make this concrete progress in important areas from fighting illicit opium production to increasing productivity in traditional agricultural commodities; from combating organized criminal groups to advancing regional economic cooperation."

The UN chief also welcomed US President Barack Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan, saying the policy deserves widespread support.