Press Release: Kabul Conference: High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton reaffirms the EU’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, attended the Kabul Conference on 20 July 2010.

The Conference focused on increased Afghan responsibility and ownership of its own security, governance and development, the so-called “Kabul process”.

At the conference HR/VP Ashton presented plans for continued EU engagement in Afghanistan, stressing the priority areas which include sub-national governance; reform of the justice and police sectors; and human rights.

The EU fully supports the peace and reconciliation process and is standing ready to support Afghan efforts to reintegrate those ready to renounce violence.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Memo/10/345: EU-Afghanistan RELATIONS: General Background Note http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/345&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Speech/10/399: Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan, 20 July 2010 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/10/399&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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