A two-day international conference on Afghan reconstruction ended in Tokyo Tuesday with donors pledging as much as US$4.5 billion, including about US$1.8 billion to be funneled in the first year.
Representatives from over 80 countries and international organizations participated in the ministerial conference for reconstruction assistance to the war-ravaged country, which was co-chaired by Japan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union.
The donors attending the conference made their monetary pledgesor other forms of contribution Monday.
Most of the money pledged came from several richest countries, including Japan, Germany, the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia.
Japanese Prime Minister pledged about US$500 million in two and half years, followed by Germany US$360 million, the United States US$297 million, Britain US$288 million, Saudi Arabia US$220 million.
Developing countries and neighbors of Afghanistan also showed their willingness to support Afghan reconstruction with pledged money and other forms of assistance.
India offered US$100 million in 2002, while Iran and Pakistan pledged US$560 million and US$100 million, respectively, over the next five years.
A co-chairs' summary released at the end of the gathering says the conference provided the Afghan Interim Authority an opportunity to reaffirm its determination to pursue the process of reconciliation, reconstruction and development, and provided the international donor community an opportunity to express its political support for this process with indications of concrete assistance.
The document says an implementation group of donor representatives, which has been meeting on the sidelines of the Tokyo conference, will work in Kabul on an ongoing basis to coordinate reconstruction projects.
It also says a single fund for Afghan reconstruction will be entrusted to the World Bank.
The document mentions clearing land mines as an urgent issue tobe taken up to allow refugees and displaced people within Afghanistan to return to their homes, and also emphasizes the importance of promoting women's rights.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2002)
