Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti signed a long-term strategic partnership agreement in Rome on Thursday to enhance Italy's areas of assistance in Afghanistan. "The main message of today's meeting is that Italy's responsibilities and partnership will not lessen with the withdrawal of our military forces in 2014," said Monti. "Italy will not abandon Afghanistan."
He added: "We will be less involved in security and military aspects, and more on civilian and economic ones." Italy currently has 4,000 troops in Afghanistan, but they are expected to withdraw along with the rest of the Nato-led coalition by the end of 2014, handing control for security to Afghan forces.
Rome intends to increase economic co-operation with Kabul, Monti said, adding: "The development of Afghan infrastructure is crucially important and Italy will directly contribute with strategic projects in Herat province." Karzai invited Italian businesses "to come and benefit from our mineral resources, and bring benefits to Afghanistan".
The partnership deal was signed at the start of a European trip which will see Karzai also sign strategic treaties with France and Britain to secure continued support in Afghanistan's reconstruction and development. The Italian premier said Rome "supports the Afghan government in the delicate process of reconciliation with insurgents, should they renounce violence and terrorism... and respect Afghanistan's integrity." Afghanistan "has made significant progress in the peace process and we are grateful to the Afghan government for its leadership and the growing and effective co-ordination between the Afghan institutions," Monti said. Karzai will travel to Paris on Friday and then on to London.
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