Afghanistan, Norway to sign strategic pact

 KABUL would sign a long-term strategic cooperation agreement with Norway in September this year to bolster ties with the Nordic nation.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere assured President Hamid Karzai during a meeting on Wednesday that Norway was prepared to ink the pact and draft of the accord was finalised, said a Presidential Palace statement.

He also said Norway would participate in the forthcoming Tokyo donors’ conference in July.

Karzai thanked Stoere for the Norwegian assistance and their commitment to Afghanistan over the past 10 years, added the statement.

Afghanistan had already signed similar agreements with India, the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany.

British Chief of the Defence Staff David Richards also met Karzai on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace and assured his country’s continued assistances to Afghanistan beyond 2014, in line with UK’s strategic agreement.

Richards also said Britain supported the peace process in Afghanistan and pledged to  assist Afghanistan to train, equip and support its security personnel, said the statement.  

Myn/vp

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