The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, proposes aid plan for Afghanistan. Over the next five years, the government will spend 4 billion kroner on civilian contributions in Afghanistan. Read a translation of the article in the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen below.
The government will spend 4 billion kroner over five years for the civilian contribution in Afghanistan. It is a risky investment, but the alternative is unacceptable, says Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour Party).
In February Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that Norway's civilian contribution in Afghanistan will increase by 50 per cent in 2008 to 750 million kroner. Now he announces that this major effort should stretch over five years.
Much at stake
"It's natural, with reservations for the approval of the Storting, to give the signal for 750 million kroner for five years to come. So we are talking about 4 billion kroner. That's a lot of money and an expression of how much is at stake," says Støre to Dagsavisen.
At the same time he emphasizes that this is a risky investment. "It's risky because you invest in something that is demanding to accomplish, namely education for 10 million Afghans, a health care system that covers 80-90 per cent of the population, and a village development that makes the farmers choose to grow something besides opium," says Støre. Still, he believes the risk of not investing in Afghanistan is greater than the risk of doing it.
Political and Economic.
The indication of a 5-year contribution of 4 billion kroner is a component in what the foreign minister describes as an escalation of Norway's political and economic contribution in Afghanistan.
"Norway is making a heavy military contribution, but it isn't that which will turn the situation in Afghanistan. On the other hand, I think our political contribution and the way we give our economic support could be of quite major strategic significance," says Støre.
He is very satisfied that the former political director at the Foreign Ministry (UD), Kai Eide, has become UN special representative to Afghanistan. And yesterday director general Kåre Aas was appointed ambassador in Kabul. Aas is considered one of the foreign service's best and most experienced diplomats. "This is a very powerful expression of the fact that we need our best people in the most demanding jobs," says Støre.
Shoulder Burdens
On Tuesday Store will give his foreign policy report to the Storting. In it he will defend the reason why Norway ought to use such large resources in Afghanistan.
"If we are to look after Norway's interests, we must also be capable of shouldering burdens far away. What is far away geographically could be very close politically and strategically. Afghanistan is a good illustration of that," says Støre.
He dismisses the allegation that the most important reason for Norway's participation in Afghanistan is considerations for NATO and not concern for Afghanistan.
"For me that is a false dilemma. It would be a profound tragedy for the Afghans, but also a major security challenge for us, if Afghanistan slides backward and becomes a haven for terror and chaos. But, naturally, we have both a responsibility and an interest in the success in Afghanistan of the alliance we continue to be dependent on for the security in our vicinity," says Støre.
UN Mission
In the Soria Moria declaration the government promised to increase the participation in UN operations. That has not happened. Nonetheless, Store says the government can not be accused of breaking its promise. "This government has made a whole-hearted attempt to come up with a substantial contribution to the United Nations in Sudan. Under the circumstances, we did not think we had the capacity for Haiti. But in the future I think very clearly that Afghanistan is job number one. We should not arrange it so that we weaken what we are doing there," says Støre.
Source: Dagsavisen website, May16th, 2008
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