Afghanistan

Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt presented key elements of the draft EU strategy for Afghanistan and perspectives for the development of relations with Afghanistan. During the meeting, ministers discussed the results of the presidential election that was held in Afghanistan, and the EU Police Mission (EUPOL) in Afghanistan.

Minister V.Ušackas stressed that Afghanistan’s second presidential election, which was held in August, was an important step towards stability, good governance and the rule of law.

“In the province of Ghor, where Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team operates,, the voters’ turnout was around 50 percent which is higher than the average for the whole country. The elections in the Ghor Province were relatively active and without serious infringements or incidents, they can serve as a good example for other regions of the country,” Minister V.Ušackas said.

According to the Minister, such results of the election also present Lithuania’s input into the reconstruction of the Ghor Province since 2002.

On the issue of the development of relations with Afghanistan, Lithuania follows a provision that the new EU strategy should include concrete short-term and long-term measures, which would help to improve the current situation.

“It is important to strengthen administrative capacities of the Government of Afghanistan at the central and, especially, the local levels. The strategy has to include the measures of strengthening backward provinces and to promote an even development of all regions in Afghanistan (including the Ghor Province). It is also necessary to allocate the financing of civil projects by the European Commission and an equal distribution of finances for the regions,” Minister V.Ušackas said.

On the subject of the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Minister V.Ušackas emphasized that it was essential to guarantee that the laws, which are passed with regard to women’s rights in Afghanistan, would correspond with Afghanistan’s Constitution and international norms of human rights. The Minister also expressed this necessity in the letter of 2 September to Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

During the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, Minister V.Ušackas met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia Antonio Milošoski and discussed perspectives of Macedonia’s EU membership, cooperation between Lithuania and Macedonia in the areas of bilateral and multilateral relations.

“We support Macedonia’s goals to start the EU accession negotiations at an earliest possible date. However, Macedonia has to fully comply with the EU requirements,” emphasized Minister V.Ušackas.

The Macedonian Minister stressed the necessity to distinguish between the EU membership goals and Macedonia’s bilateral relations with neighbouring states.