DENMARK PLEDGES $100 MILLION IN ANNUAL AID TO AFGHANISTAN
Kabul, 3 Muharram 1434/6 November 2013 (MINA) – The government of Denmark has pledged $100 million in annual aid to Afghanistan for a period of five years.
The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach annonced the aid package during his meeting with the Helmand governor, Mohammad Naeem.
Christian Friis Bach said the major portion of the aid will spent to improve eduction sector, fund police, agriculture sector and women’s rights projects in Afghanistan. Khaama Press quoted by Mi’raj News Agency as reporting, Wednesday (5/11).
He also pledged Denmark’s long term commitment to Afghanistan and said that Afghanistan is a close friend and ally of Denmark.
Meanwhile, Helmand provincial governor Mohammad Naeem lauded Denmark’s cooperation to Afghanistan and said the government and people Denmark have been cooperative on various sectors to Afghanistan during the past 12 years.
Friis Bach arrived to Afghanistan in unannounced visit on Monday. He visited an agriculture exhibition in during his visit to southern Helmand province and vowed to support the agriculture sector of Helmand province.
“Denmark is one of the countries that have carried the toughest load in Afghanistan, and Danish soldiers have been on the front line since 2002,” Thorning-Schmidt said today in her weekly press conference. “They have provided an invaluable service for our safety and they have been part of helping the Afghans take care of their own security.”
A number of Danish defence personnel will remain in the country in order to train the Afghan police force and to man special units and tanks.
The original withdraw plan, revealed in January, stated that the last Danish unit wouldn’t be withdrawn until the end of 2014. According to that plan, the last Danish infantry soldier would be withdrawn by February 2014 at the latest, while the tank units would leave by the middle of the year and the last Danish battle unit would leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. But the prime minister said that the Afghan security forces have prepared themselves quicker than expected to take over the reins from their Danish counterparts.
“The situation is that the Danish and British forces determined that there shouldn’t be new squads when the current team leaves for home in August. After that we will support only with our tanks,” Thorning-Schmidt said.
Despite the withdrawal of the Danish military presence in Afghanistan, the government is dedicated to putting greater focus on efforts to aid civil society. To this end, Denmark will contribute to the development of the Afghan police force and will give more than two billion kroner to Afghanistan in financial support. (T/P012/P04)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
