German defence minister urges afghan Government to act to bring order to the country

20.11.2009

Defence Ministers zu Guttenberg and Gates (dpa Picture Alliance)

Germany's new Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Thursday said the Afghanistan government must act, not just talk, about bringing order to the country. Guttenberg made the remarks after a 45-minute meeting with his US counterpart Robert Gates, where Afghanistan dominated the agenda.

The German official gave a grim assessment of the situation there, telling reporters afterwards that the United States and its allies like Germany are "condemned to success." Germany currently has 4,500 soldiers as part of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Its troops have seen heavy fighting in the increasingly violent northern regions.

Guttenberg said that Germany was working to bring its own vision for peace in the country into play in the efforts there.

US President Barack Obama is expected to unveil his long-awaitednew Afghanistan strategy over the coming weeks - a decision that could send tens of thousands of additional US soldiers to Afghanistan.

Germany's parliament is expected to extend the mandate for its participation in the international military mission ISAF for another year in December.

Source: dpa