Estonia would like EU to play bigger role in Afghanistan 
21.02.2008
TALLINN, Feb 21, BNS - Estonia would like to see the European Union act more effectively in Afghanistan and has taken action towards this end.
The EU's role in civilian assistance and development of the police system in Afghanistan should grow considerably, Foreign Minister Paet said at a foreign policy discussion in parliament today.
In his words, Estonia has taken action within the bloc to ensure that the EU's role in Afghanistan increased and the bloc became more aware of the country's needs.
Explaining the Estonian position, the minister said that even if progress is seen in Afghanistan's economic and educational life many problems still remain.
He confirmed that Estonia will together with its partners in NATO's most important operation continue improving the security situation in Afghanistan to cut through the roots of terrorism and prevent Taleban's return to power.
In the longer term building Afghanistan's own security forces is of utmost importance and this also is one of the cornerstones of the strategy for the withdrawal of international forces from that country, the minister said.
Along with military presence, Estonia's development assistance to Afghanistan has increased several times, Paet observed. Estonia contributes mainly to the health sector and is about to send a medical specialist to Helmand province.
In addition, an Estonian police expert will be sent to Kabul this year.
Paet voiced the hope that a person carrying international weight will be appointed the UN special envoy to Afghanistan and that the organization will expand its activity to southern provinces where the situation is the most precarious.
He added that Afghanistan itself must at the same time take greater responsibility for building a civil society which among other things means freedom of the press.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee
 
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