Minister Grabar-Kitarović participated in the Afghanistan: A Common Challenge panel, of the Partnership for Peace Planning Symposium Effective Partnerships, organized by NATO in Oberammergau, Bavaria, Fed

Minister Grabar-Kitarović underlined the joint efforts that the international community was making to establish institutions and introduce democracy, stability and peace in Afghanistan. The aims of security, rule of law, reconstruction and development are interrelated, and comprehensive progress depends on all these goals being accomplished equally.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović, speaking on the stabilization of Afghanistan from the stance of experience from Croatia’s own history, the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the Partnership for Peace and from the standpoint of a country on its path to full NATO membership, as well as Croatian experience in Afghanistan in 2002, underlined that it was necessary to increase international aid to the government of Afghanistan, so that the Afghan Government would gradually assume independent authority in all areas, especially regarding security, and fighting drug trafficking and corruption. The international community should also boost the security component in stabilization activities, find additional sources of donations and increase the support for sustainable economic growth in Afghanistan. It is necessary to promote the coordination among international factors, as well as between the international community and Afghanistan, and to work harder on including key neighbouring countries in the process of stabilization, as well as to intensify bilateral and multilateral collaboration with Afghanistan, stressed Minister Grabar-Kitarović.

NATO, together with its partners, plays an important role in Afghanistan through the ISAF Mission under UN mandate, begun in 2003, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović. The Republic of Croatia is proud to be able to contribute to the ISAF Mission, with the military and the civil component. Also, wishing to give its support to Afghanistan in improving its administrative capacities, the Republic of Croatia invited two Afghan diplomats to attend courses at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, and a study visit by representatives of the Afghan Ministry for Women’s Affairs to the Republic of Croatia was organized in December 2006, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović.

The Partnership for Peace Planning Symposium held on 18-19 January 2007 in Oberammergau is the largest so far and gathered participants from 57 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović met with the commanders of NATO School in Oberammergau while participating in the Partnership for Peace Planning Symposium.

Video interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Grabar-Kitarović, MA