Afghanistan, Kabul, July 22 / Trend K.Akilbekov /
NATO will not leave Afghanistan, even after the expiry of his mission in the country and will continue to assist the Afghan people as long as there is no completely sure that local authorities are able to manage the country, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at the news conference in Kabul.
"The statements on that the national Afghan forces will be able to assume responsibility for security in their country by 2014 does not mean that NATO troops will withdraw from Afghanistan, they will support," Rasmussen said.
Kabul hosted conference of donor countries of Afghanistan. The Kabul Conference brought together Foreign Ministers and senior representatives of more than 70 nations, international and regional organizations and financial institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, President Hamid Karzai said the local law enforcement agencies will be able to independently control the situation in the country already in 2014.
Rasmussen said if NATO is to hasten the withdrawal of troops of the alliance, the Taliban will once again return to Afghanistan, and all previous efforts will be thwarted.
"We will not allow extremists to overthrow the democratic regime in Afghanistan," he said. "We will not abandon the Afghans. Even after the transfer of responsibility to the national security forces we will stay to help them."
The process of transferring responsibility to the Afghan security forces is expected to ve launched in 20011, Rasmussen added.
"The process will be carried out gradually - Province of province, district to district," Rasmussen said. "That is why we are now actively train Afghan police and soldiers."
Regarding the position and role of the U.S. initiative to transfer responsibility to the Afghan government, Rasmussen believes the U.S. play a major role throughout this process.
"The transfer of responsibility, as I said, will go in stages," he said. "I think we all agree that it would be better if it took place as early as possible."
Regarding Afghanistan's initiative to intensify the struggle against corruption, Rasmussen said that it is very important.
"I support Karzai that he has pledged to fight corruption, as we must be sure that the funds allocated for development of Afghanistan, are used as intended and effectively," he said.
Karzai urged the international community to assist the Afghan government in fighting corruption.
Karzai said the security forces and anti-criminal anti-corruption management, as well as the state management created to monitor corruption may create a legal basis for prosecution of corrupt officials with the support of the international community.
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