The Minister of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs Luís Amado will attend the Afghanistan London Conference, January 28, in London.
This conference, organized by the UN, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom will bring together more than 60 countries to assess the situation in Afghanistan in all its dimensions and allow the international community under UN leadership a more effective coordination in providing effective support to Afghanistan’s Government in regard to security, development and governance of the country. There will be three separate working sessions with the objective of preparing and enhancing Afghanistan’s responsibilities and capabilities in regard to security; creating economic and social conditions to enable sustainable peace; supporting the reforms already undertaken and reiterate the importance of regional cooperation and dialogue in order to contribute to internal and regional security and stability.
In October 2009, the European Council approved the review of the EU strategy for the region, setting up an Action Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan, to implement the strengthening of institutions and security forces, the promotion of good governance, human rights, the rule of law and economic development to be undertaken in collaboration with the Afghan authorities.
Portugal has supported a greater UN involvement in the Afghan issue, in particular, by strengthening UNAMA’s role in the coordination of international efforts in the field. Last December, Luís Amado wrote to the High Representative Catherine Ashton stressing the need of a both a military victory and winning over the EU Member States and Allies public opinion, on the importance of NATO’s mission to Afghanistan.
Portugal has recently doubled its participation in ISAF.
The conference will begin at Lancaster House at 8 am, January 28, and will be chaired by the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Ban Ki -Moon.
The meeting’s first session, on Security, will start at 10 am and be chaired by David Miliband, featuring as speakers, NATO’s Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen and Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak.
The Second Session, at 11:15 am, will address the subject "Government and Development", featuring Afghanistan’s Finance Minister and the World Bank Director.
A meeting on the issue “Civil Society” will precede the Third Session devoted to "Regional Structure" and "International Architecture", at 2 pm, featuring Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zamal Rasoul and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, as speakers.
The conference will end with a debate and conclusions, followed by a press conference (4:30 pm).