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Foreign Minister Westerwelle met with President Karzai in Kabul.

(© picture-alliance / dpa)

Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle attended the celebrations to mark the inauguration in Kabul of the re-elected President, Hamid Karzai. He expressly welcomed Karzai’s speech: “That was a speech with the right priorities which fulfill our expectations.” Following talks with Karzai, Westerwelle visited the German base in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Westerwelle made it clear in Kabul that Karzai’s second term of office would bring major challenges and that expectations were high. Not only his own people but also the international community expected a government which would govern the whole of Afghanistan.

“We will support a government which fosters transparency, a government which champions the fight against corruption,” he stressed.

Karzai: Afghans have to ensure their own security

In his inaugural speech, Karzai expressed the hope that the Afghan forces would be enabled in the coming five years to lead the task of security and stability throughout the country. He also announced that he intends to fight corruption in the country.

A loya jirga is to be convened to foster reconciliation with the Taliban. This grand assembly is intended to bring peace to Afghanistan after 30 years of war, Karzai said after he had been sworn in. According to Afghanistan’s constitution, the loya jirga is the highest manifestation of the will of the Afghan people. It is convened by the President.

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Foreign Minister Westerwelle leaves the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

(© dpa - Report)

Westerwelle welcomed Karzai’s speech: “We’ll take Karzai at his word, and count on him backing up these words with the proper actions.”

Before departing for Kabul, Westerwelle had stressed, “we don’t want Afghanistan to be a never-ending mission.”

The aim, rather, was “to ensure a responsible handover, to hand over responsibility to the Afghans themselves.” Enough progress should be made during this legislative period to make withdrawal a realistic prospect.

Extending the Bundeswehr mission

The Bundeswehr mission in the north of the country continues to be a key element in Germany’s engagement. For despite the progress made, the Afghan Government is still not able to ensure security and stability in all parts of the country on its own.

The Federal Cabinet therefore decided on November 18 to deploy up to 4,500 troops in Afghanistan for another year. This mission is still to be approved by the German Bundestag.

Recently, the security situation – also in the north – has deteriorated. The continuation of the international engagement is necessary to prevent Afghanistan from reverting into the state it found itself in during the civil war and the Taliban’s reign of terror. A stable Afghanistan, on the other hand, could have resonance throughout the region.

The goal of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) is to help the Afghan Government create and maintain a secure environment and, in particular, to assist in building the Afghan security forces.

The Afghan army and police force must be enabled to ensure a secure environment which fosters development. As the capabilities of the Afghan security forces increase, responsibility for security can be gradually handed over to the Afghans.