Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) on Thursday discussed the issue of Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment to support Afghanistan on its path to long-term stability.
As Afghanistan is still faced with grave challenges such as terrorism, insecurity, poverty, corruption, illegal drug production, the G8 nations agreed during talks at a working dinner to assist the country "through a holistic approach to its stability and reconstruction."
The G8 members will accelerate assistance to build the Afghan National Army and Police and strengthen support for Afghanistan in other elements of security sector reform, said a statement on Afghanistan released after the working dinner.
Urging its neighbors to play a constructive role for the stability of Afghanistan, the ministers maintained that Afghanistan and Pakistan continue their cooperation in a constructive way and mutually beneficial manner through dialogue.
In this regard, the G8 countries endorsed more than 150 projects currently planned or implemented by the G8 members, and pledged strengthened assistance to the border regions between the two countries.
On illicit drug production, the ministers encouraged the neighboring states to deny narco-traffickers and those financing terrorism operation in and around Afghanistan, and promised to step up counter-narcotics efforts, including support for the elimination of illicit crops and sustainable economic alternatives.
During the talks at the dinner meeting, the ministers also conferred on the issues of Myanmar and Pakistan.
In light of Pakistan's strategic importance, they concurred that the stability of Pakistan is conducive to that of the international community at large, calling for support for the country's drive to achieve sustained economic growth.
Concerning cyclone-hit Myanmar, the ministers reached a consensus that the G8 nations will continue to support its reconstruction efforts, urging its government to accept rescue personnel from outside to help with the relief operations.
The G8 foreign ministers meeting opened Thursday with a "working dinner" chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.
International efforts for nuclear nonproliferation and peace building in war-torn countries are the major topics of the gathering.
The two-day meeting is the last of a string of G8 ministerial conference in the run-up to the G8 summit scheduled for July 7-9 at the Toyako (Lake Toya) resort area in Hokkaido.
Source:Xinhua
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