By Martin Banks - 27th November 2007
The EU has been urged to intensify its efforts to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Afghan parliamentarian Abbas Noyan said the bloc should step up its contribution “in all areas”.
“We are looking to the international community in general, and the EU in particular, to do more to help in the reconstruction process,” he said.
Noyan is part of a nine-member delegation from the Afghan parliament visiting parliament from 27-29 November.
They will attend meetings with the foreign affairs and development committees and the recently-created delegation for relations with Afghanistan.
The EU has donated €2.6bn to the Afghanistan government since 2002 and recently announced it will provide the country with over €170m on an annual basis until the end of the decade.
But Noyan told this website that his country still expects more, saying, “International cooperation is vitally important in order for us to save our country from further conflict and turmoil.
“The EU, in particular, could provide more advisory support. There also needs to be clearer cooperation between Nato and Afghan forces.”
During their stay in Brussels, the group will also attend workshops on the fight against drugs, good governance and the security situation in their country.
They will also visit the plenary session on Wednesday.
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