On 31 March 2009, the Netherlands is hosting the ´International Conference on Afghanistan: a Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context´ at the World Forum in The Hague.

Both the Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are expected to attend. The ministerial discussion will be co-chaired by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Maxime Verhagen. The Macedonian delegation at the Conference will be headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Milososki.

Building on the achievements of the Conferences held in Bonn, in London and, most recently, in Paris last year this Conference should reaffirm the solid and long-term commitment of the international community to supporting the Government of Afghanistan in shaping a better future for Afghanistan and its people.

The Conference will take a comprehensive look at the current political, security and development issues facing us in Afghanistan, also taking the regional context into account. The years 2009 and 2010 will be particularly important for Afghanistan. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on 20 August this year, and parliamentary elections will follow next year. The international community now needs to look ahead and discuss upcoming policy choices.

The attendees of this Conference will include foreign ministers from the countries that attended previous conferences on Afghanistan, including countries that border Afghanistan or are part of the wider region, countries that are part of the International Security Assistance Force and other countries and organisations that are contributing to reconstruction in Afghanistan.

For more information please visit:  https://afghanistanconference2009.minbuza.nl/gsp.dll?sid=266&pid=1&p_menuid=1&p_parentmenuid=1