Karzai eyes security handover
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Delegates including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- moon and some 40 foreign ministers from over 70 countries and international organizations attended the one-day conference.
In his opening remarks, President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan is "determined" to be responsible for its own security operations by 2014.
"I remain determined that our Afghan National Security Forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014," said Karzai.
"I wish all those who have taken arms against the country to give up militancy," Karzai said, adding, "I hope the international community to back our efforts for peace in Afghanistan."
Once again, Karzai called on the Taliban and other armed opposition groups to join the peace process.
He also vowed to fight administrative corruption. However, the Afghan president did not appeal for money this time and instead called for having control over at least 50 percent of the funds contributed by the international community for rebuilding his war- ravaged country.
Speaking at the conference, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the world body's support, saying, " Let me assure you that we will be working closely with Finance Minister Zakhilwal, the Afghan government and other partners as we move ahead."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also repeated in her speech Washington's firm support and emphasized, "We have no intention of abandoning our long-term mission of achieving a stable, secure and peaceful Afghanistan."
Secretary General of the NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen assured the alliance in his speech firm support and said that, "The military alliance would remain in Afghanistan even after Afghan security forces take responsibility for security."
He also said that the NATO would not allow Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to return to power in Afghanistan.
Despite Taliban threat, the conference concluded peacefully and no major security incidents have been reported in Kabul and other provinces except slamming three rockets in the capital city that caused no loss of life.
