Development Minister Paatero to attend the London Conference on Afghanistan
Development Minister Sirpa Paatero will participate in the international London Conference on Afghanistan to be held on 4 December.
The conference will review the situation in Afghanistan following the elections and security transition that took place this year. The main objective is to assess the past 13 years of cooperation between the international community and Afghanistan as well as to reaffirm the commitment to partnership and cooperation. The next few years are crucial for Afghanistan, and the country’s development also affects the development of the region. In her speech Minister Paatero will highlight in particular human rights and the position of women as well as anti-corruption work in Afghanistan. Finland has participated in the development of Afghanistan’s security sector and has granted more than 220 million euros in development aid and humanitarian assistance since 2002. Finland’s development funding to Afghanistan has risen to a total of 30 million euros a year.
Additional information: Chief of Cabinet Claus Jerker Lindroos, tel. +358 295 351 234, Director Leena Viljanen, Unit for South Asia, tel. +358 295 351 1880.