President Karzai Welcomes German President

Publish Date: Oct 16, 2011

President Hamid Karzai welcomed to Kabul on Sunday Christian Wulff, the German President who is on a state visit to Afghanistan. Several issues of bilateral interest were discussed in the meeting. 

At a joint press conference following their talks in Gul Khana Palace, the two Presidents called relations between Germany and Afghanistan as old and growing.

While welcoming Mr. Wulff to Afghanistan, President Karzai described Germany as an ‘old friend of Afghanistan’ and said Afghans cherished their friendship with Germany.

President Wulff said that Germany would remain an ally and partner for Afghanistan even after 2014, when the international community withdraws their combat troops from Afghanistan.

'Germany will not abandon Afghanistan,' President Wulff said in response to a question on when will the German troops start to depart from the country.

President Wulff said Germany will begin withdrawing its combat troops from Afghanistan in 2014 but his country will continue to support Afghanistan beyond the date and reaffirmed that his country would stand by Afghanistan as long as Afghan nation wanted. He called the transition of security responsibilities as a difficult process but said is well underway and he was sure the people of Afghanistan were determined to own their own affairs.

He also said his country would be hosting a major international conference in Bonn on Afghanistan where senior representatives from international community would gather to voice support to Afghanistan in its efforts towards the completion of the transition process and peace and security.

In reference to the upcoming Bonn conference, President Karzai said important issues about Afghanistan, including security transition and regional cooperation would be discussed in Bonn at the end of this year.

"Very important issues of Afghanistan including security transition from foreign troops to Afghan forces, regional cooperation, and peace process will be discussed in Bonn Conference on Afghanistan to be held in Bonn this December," President Karzai said in response to a question on the agenda for the conference.

The President praised Germany as one of the biggest donors to Afghanistan over the past decade, adding: 'Germany has served the people of Afghanistan, and has endeavored for the prosperity and development of Afghanistan and has put the money earned with sweat and hardworking of its people in the service of Afghan people.