The Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach said from Tokyo:"It's a robust result and it sends a clear message to the people of Afghanistan that we will not fail them when the foreign combat troops return home in 2014. It is a contract we have made, where we promise significant support to among others schools, health clinics and security with a clear Afghan promise of a continued reinforcement of the democracy, human rights, women's rights and a stronger action taken against corruption and abuse. Denmark has committed to contribute 530 million DDK annually until 2017, if the Afghan government delivers."
With the Afghanistan conference in Tokyo we are now on track with the preparations for the period after 2014, when the full responsibility for the security in their own country will be handed over to the Afghans and where the focus should be on the long-term economic, political and social development of the country.
The 70 participating countries adopted a declaration, and - most importantly - a concrete agreement on the mutual obligations of both Afghanistan and the international community - 'the Tokyo Framework'. In areas such as good governance, implementation of free and fair elections in 2014 and 2015, and human rights, including women's rights, there is established clear requirements for the Afghan government, which will be frequently monitored. Meeting these requirements is a prerequisite for the international community’s commitment to provide financial assistance up to and including 2015 with 16 billion USD. There will in 2014, after the Afghan presidential election, be held a new conference in London, which will determine the Afghan Government and the international community's compliance with the contract.
The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation attended the conference and in addition also a civil society conference with the participation of civil society organizations from Afghanistan.
"The civil society organizations in Afghanistan are increasing and are becoming stronger and better at keeping the government of Afghanistan responsible. It is encouraging and shows that Afghanistan, despite the enormous challenges, has come a long way. A conference with a broad participation from the civil society in Afghanistan would have been unthinkable just 10 years ago" Christian Friis Bach said.