NZ Foreign Policy: Ministers Shrug Off Afghan Exit Strategy Idea
February 11th, 2010
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp flew off to Istanbul this week for an ISAF Defence Ministers’ conference. This follows Foreign Minister Murray McCully going to London last week for an ISAF Foreign Ministers’ conference. Some analysts see this intense activity as evidence the Govt’s intervention in Afghanistan worries the NZ public and the Govt is looking for an exit strategy for NZ forces, but the Ministers insist the mission is to build on initiatives aimed at achieving stability in Afghanistan and ensuring it is no longer a safe haven for terrorists. McCully says the mood in the London conference was more upbeat than he had expected. NZ has been critical of the failure to reduce corruption by the Kabul administration but from the London conference emerged better prospects for improved governance, reconciliation and reintegration of factions.
McCully says NZ won’t contribute to the fund established last week aimed at paying Taleban fighters to give up their arms and abide by the laws of Afghanistan. NZ’s $9m ODA earmarked for Afghanistan will be directed mainly to reinforcing the work of the PRT in Bamian province. Meanwhile he is focusing on the appointment of a special envoy and ambassador to Kabul, which, because of the variety of tasks which will have to be undertaken, may call for a multi-talented diplomat.
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Duncan Cotterill