Hague Afghanistan conference - report

US, EU offer election cash

by Tony Cross

Article published on the 2009-03-31 Latest update 2009-03-31 08:53 TU

Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende and Afghan President Hamid Karzai at The Hague 30 March 30.
(Photo: Reuters)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pledged 30 million euros to help fund Afghanistan's presidential election in August and the European Commission has promised 60 million euros to help the poll, the police and farming. The announcements come as a one-day international conference opens in the Hague, the Netherlands, with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, who is responsible for Asia, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoundzadeh attending.

The conference, which has been labelled a "big tent" meeting, brings together representatives of over 70 countries and 20 international organisations.

Only Uzbekistan said no to the invitation to attend, according to the organisers. The presence of Iran's Akhoundzadeh has caused speculation that he may hold an informal meeting with the Americans, but Iranian diplomats have told RFI that there are no plans for such a meeting.

Iran and the US have had no diplomatic relations since 1979 but US President Barack Obama recently hinted in a message to the Iranian people that relations could improve.

Coming shortly after Obama's announcement of his strategy for Afghanistan, which aims to win closer co-operation from Pakistan, the conference will concentrate on involving neighbouring countries in the US's and Nato's efforts.

"I think there are a number of ways that different nations can be constructive in supporting Afghanistan," Clinton told reporters travelling with her to The Netherlands.

"There are a number of issues that affect the neighbours, including terrorism and narcotics trafficking."

Afghanistan produces 90 per cent of the world's heroin and the drug poses a major problem for Iran, which also receives many asylum seekers.

In the western camp, all are agreed on the need to stamp out corruption and strengthen Afghanistan's security forces, in the hope that they will one day take over from Isaf, the international force in the country.

But there are signs of tension between France and the US over Washington's plan to centralise control of training all forces. Paris apparently wants the European Union to train the paramilitary police.

That question is likely to be discussed at a Nato summit in Strasbourg on Friday.

Nato Secretary-General Jap de Hoop Scheffer told Monday's Financial Times that he would like to see the creation of a national training commission which would "double-hat" the US commanding officer for both US and Nato activities.