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UN urged over Afghan conference EU trio call for UN Afghan summit
(about 2 hours later)
The UK, French and German leaders have urged the UN to hold a major international conference on Afghanistan's future by the year's end. British, French and German leaders have urged the UN to hold a major international conference on Afghanistan's future by the year's end.
British PM Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the plea by letter to the UN secretary general.British PM Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the plea by letter to the UN secretary general.
They called for a meeting to discuss the aftermath of the Afghan elections.They called for a meeting to discuss the aftermath of the Afghan elections.
They said that there are "new prospects and goals" in relation to governance, law, security, and development. New prospects and goals should be set in relation to governance, security, law and development, the trio said.
Timelines for handing responsibility to Afghans were also needed, they said.
The letter was made public by the French president's office on Wednesday.The letter was made public by the French president's office on Wednesday.
'Benchmarks and timelines'
The call comes amid increasing violence in Afghanistan and mounting concern in Britain, France and Germany over the Nato operation there.
There is increasing concern over Afghanistan's deteriorating security
A spokesman for the British prime minister said that London had offered to help organise the conference.
It is envisaged that it will take place in two phases before the end of the year.
The spokesman said that the first phase could be held in the Afghan capital, Kabul, depending on security considerations, while the second could be held in an "international city".
The letter sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that "benchmarks and timelines" should be agreed "to formulate a joint framework for our transition phase in Afghanistan... to set our expectations of ownership and the clear view to hand over responsibility step-by-step to the Afghans, wherever possible".
"It seems a natural occasion to call for an international conference on Afghanistan before the end of this year right after the inauguration of the new Afghan government," the three leaders wrote.
The letter said that the conference could build on previous international gatherings on Afghanistan and a Nato strategic review.
'Wrong direction'
Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday he was concerned about growing public scepticism about the war effort in Afghanistan and urged the Kabul government to assume more responsibility for issues such as security and better governance.
"The public discourse on the effort in Afghanistan has started to go in the wrong direction," he said in remarks prepared for delivery at a military ceremony in the US.
"What we need is a clear step toward transition to Afghan leadership in all areas - security, health, education, development and governance," he said.
Mr Brown's spokesman said that military involvement in Afghanistan should not be seen as solely the responsibility of Britain and the US, and the conference would aim to ensure commitment from Nato partners in the future.
"This is a Nato initiative and therefore all the key players are involved and need to be encouraged to be involved," the spokesman said.
Britain, France and Germany all have troops serving in the international coalition that has been fighting the Taliban insurgency since the Islamic militia was driven out of Kabul in late 2001.