The future government of Afghanistan - Jack Straw

The future government of Afghanistan - statement by the Foreign Secretary

In response to the signing of the Agreement on Afghanistan's future, The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said it was a 'significant achievement' and a 'victory for the coalition against terrorism'.

Mr Straw paid tribute to Afghanistan's leaders and the United Nations and reaffirmed that Britain would continue to offer its support to the future administration. He said:

'The signing this morning of the Agreement on Afghanistan's future is a significant achievement. I pay tribute to the United Nations and to the Afghan leaders - men and women - who have grasped this opportunity to begin to re-build their country.'

'It is a victory for the coalition against terrorism. A stable Afghanistan, with a broad-based government, is as important to our own security as it is to the Afghan people. This really is one world.'

'There is now much work to be done on the ground in Afghanistan to turn this Agreement into the reality of a stable nation at peace with itself and the world.

'Britain will continue to play its part in supporting these efforts, as we have played our part in helping the UN Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi bring about this remarkable Agreement.'

'We have come much further, more quickly towards a stable Afghanistan than anyone thought possible just a few days ago. The message from Bonn is that the will is there to build a new future and so now are the means.'

ENDS

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