President Karzai,

Mr Secretary-General,

Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the entire German Government, I’m delighted to welcome you all to today’s International Afghanistan Conference. We – most especially the German Foreign Minister and the Federal Foreign Office – have prepared this Conference with enthusiasm and great commitment. For we believe that this meeting will provide us with a unique opportunity to broaden and further develop our partnership with the Afghan Government, as well as with the Afghan people as a whole. The presence of 100 delegations as well as of numerous representatives of civil society demonstrates the possibilities this Conference has to offer.

President Karzai, when you asked me at the NATO summit in  last year whether  would be prepared to organize another Afghanistan Conference, I was more than happy to comply with your request. However, I agreed on condition that you, President Karzai – as the representative of all Afghans – rather than the German Government preside over this event.

This Conference focuses on the central question: how should we work together until 2014 and what will happen after 2014? I’d like to start by reiterating the message once more:  will be able to count on the support of the international community after 2014. That is one of the crucial lessons we’ve learned from ’s history.

Exactly ten years ago to the day, delegations from all over the world gathered here in  under the aegis of the United Nations to discuss ’s future following the demise of the Taliban’s reign of terror. Ten years later, it is of course time to take stock. Back then, government and social structures were in ruins and few people had access to education or health care. Law and order were in an extremely precarious state. Today, ten years later, we can undoubtedly claim to have made progress thanks to an unprecedented commitment. However, we also have to admit that after ten years it’s worth the effort to take another realistic look at the situation.

Ten years ago, the international community was pursuing two goals. Firstly, it was in the interest of us all that  again evolved into a stable state so that it would never again harbour a terrorist threat to the whole world. Secondly, we wanted to assist the Afghan people – we wanted to help them help themselves so that people in  would one day be able to live in peace and prosperity again.

We’ve gained much experience since then – both positive and negative experience. We had to learn a lot about your country. And we were eager to learn. It’s not so easy to always have a complete overview of structures in . However, there is one thing we’ve all noted: reconstruction isn’t possible without security – and security will only be a facade without civilian reconstruction. From these two elements we have developed our strategy which, as President Karzai pointed out, has produced some promising results. Today almost two thirds of the Afghan population has access to medical care. Moreover, allow me to name one example where  has first-hand experience, namely Mazar-e-Sharif, which – I’m glad to say – is in the process of evolving once more into a regional economic powerhouse.

However, we have also experienced setbacks time and again and have to admit that although the security situation has improved, we’ve not yet reached the point where we want to be one day. However, we can now at least gradually implement a strategy which is making it possible to hand over responsibility to the Afghan security forces. The basis for this was – and remains – training for Afghan security forces within the scope of partnering and mentoring. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who are contributing towards security in  and to express my special thanks to the . For it is doing much to improve the security situation.

In a few months’ time, responsibility for security in more than half of ’s territory will be in Afghan hands. That will take us to a new qualitative level. We want to hand over responsibility for security in ’s entire territory by the end of 2014. However, that won’t be the end of our work. For even after that, our task will be to continue building up the security forces, continue training and supporting them, even though our combat troops will no longer be there. The task then will be to consolidate the development work in order to achieve the goals we’ve set ourselves. As President Karzai has just said, the task will, of course, still be about advancing the political process, the process of reconciliation, as well as ’s economic development.

The buildup of the security forces has advanced far. More than 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police officers are already serving. We will continue the concept of mentoring and partnering and, at the same time, be able to reduce our own troop numbers. , too, will do this at a responsible pace.

The regional conference held in  on 2 November played a key role in paving the way for today’s Conference. On that occasion, the states in the region pledged to accept an Afghan-led process of reconciliation. ’s neighbourhood is, of course, another central issue. For I believe that peace and development in  can also stimulate a flourishing development in the entire region.

It goes without saying that the engagement of the private sector in  is also of paramount importance. The European mining industry – encouraged by the European Union and  – has decided to develop as quickly as possible a partnership which will help the Afghans to help themselves.  should be able to benefit from its resources and to develop. That is our main goal.

Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no doubt that the Afghan Government and the Afghan people are facing major challenges. Despite all that we’ve achieved, we must not lose sight of reality. The political process, in which such issues as reconciliation and the distribution of power across all social and ethnic groups have to be resolved, is of great importance. We can help here. We can contribute our experience and offer assistance. However, only the Afghans themselves can solve these problems. I would therefore ask you, President Karzai, to use your political will and skills to help advance this political process, to fight corruption and drug trafficking, thus improving people’s quality of life.

We are firmly convinced that people in , just like anywhere else in the world, want to live together in peace. We want to support you along this way. This Conference will therefore have a clear message:  can count on our support, not only the Government and institutions but everyone – men and women, young and old, regardless of their origins. We are united in our goal of a secure and sovereign  in a peaceful and prosperous region.

On that note, I wish you, Mr President, and the entire Conference every success. We are delighted to be your hosts. And we are ready to work hard with you in the coming years – for the benefit of the people of .