Afghan President Hamid Karzai told an international donor conference in Kabul Tuesday that he is determined to have Afghan forces in charge of the country's security by 2014.
Mr. Karzai also urged international partners to allow the Afghan government to have more control of aid money coming into the country. Mr. Karzai said the international community has committed enough money to see Afghanistan through the next three years, but called for more of the assistance to be channeled through the government.
Representatives from at least 60 countries and organizations are attending the one-day conference in the Afghan capital.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told delegates that the United States is encouraged by work the Afghan government has done to improve governance and combat corruption, but said much work remains.
She said the United States will continue to assist Afghanistan well beyond the Obama administration's July 2011 target for beginning to withdraw U.S. forces. She also stressed that the rights of women in Afghanistan must not be sacrificed in pursuit of reconciliation with the Taliban.
The Afghan government has developed a plan aimed at re-integrating Taliban fighters who agree to lay down their weapons, renounce al-Qaida and accept Afghanistan's constitution.
Secretary Clinton said the program has created a useful framework, but that progress will depend on whether insurgents wish to comply with the conditions.
Secretary Clinton met earlier Tuesday with Afghan women leaders. She said she announced U.S. support for several new programs designed to improve maternal health services.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is co-hosting the conference with President Karzai, also spoke at the conference, appealing for unity among the Afghan people.
He also called on the Afghan government to protect human rights and hold those responsible for rights violations accountable.
Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against Mr. Karzai in last year's controversial presidential election, told VOA the Afghan people need transparency in whatever actions are taken. He said they want a lasting peace, not a never-ending lineup of international conferences and communiqués.
Source http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Karzai-Outlines-Goals-for-Security-Transfer-at-Donor-Conferenc-98809424.html
Mr. Karzai also urged international partners to allow the Afghan government to have more control of aid money coming into the country. Mr. Karzai said the international community has committed enough money to see Afghanistan through the next three years, but called for more of the assistance to be channeled through the government.
Representatives from at least 60 countries and organizations are attending the one-day conference in the Afghan capital.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told delegates that the United States is encouraged by work the Afghan government has done to improve governance and combat corruption, but said much work remains.
She said the United States will continue to assist Afghanistan well beyond the Obama administration's July 2011 target for beginning to withdraw U.S. forces. She also stressed that the rights of women in Afghanistan must not be sacrificed in pursuit of reconciliation with the Taliban.
The Afghan government has developed a plan aimed at re-integrating Taliban fighters who agree to lay down their weapons, renounce al-Qaida and accept Afghanistan's constitution.
Secretary Clinton said the program has created a useful framework, but that progress will depend on whether insurgents wish to comply with the conditions.
Secretary Clinton met earlier Tuesday with Afghan women leaders. She said she announced U.S. support for several new programs designed to improve maternal health services.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is co-hosting the conference with President Karzai, also spoke at the conference, appealing for unity among the Afghan people.
He also called on the Afghan government to protect human rights and hold those responsible for rights violations accountable.
Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against Mr. Karzai in last year's controversial presidential election, told VOA the Afghan people need transparency in whatever actions are taken. He said they want a lasting peace, not a never-ending lineup of international conferences and communiqués.
Source http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Karzai-Outlines-Goals-for-Security-Transfer-at-Donor-Conferenc-98809424.html
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