We won’t forget Afghanistan: Westerwelle

KABUL): Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zalmai Rassoul met his German counterpart Dr. Guido Westerwelle at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Saturday.

The visiting dignitary also met President Hamid Karzai before holding talks with Rassoul. The two ministers later addressed a joint media briefing.

Rassoul welcomed the German minister, praising Germany’s steadfast support for Afghanistan over the years. He also thanked Westerwelle for his personal commitment to the Afghan-German friendship.

While expressing satisfaction over bilateral relations, Rassoul briefed Westerwelle on the Afghan government’s peace efforts, preparations for the April 2014 elections and the ongoing transition process.

Speaking on the occasion, Westerwelle said the German government considered leaving behind 600-800 troops after 2014, when most combat troops are scheduled to pull of the country.

The withdrawal of German soldiers from Afghanistan would go ahead as planned, he said, promising that Berlin would not forget the war-torn country after 2014.

pr/mud

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