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Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the approval of part of the new Government in Afghanistan
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement on 28 January on the approval of part of the new Afghan Government by the Parliament in Kabul:
I congratulate my new counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on his approval as the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan by the Parliament in Kabul. I look forward to working with him. At the same time, I hope that all of the other Afghan ministers will be quickly nominated and approved. Afghanistan needs a functioning government. The speedy conclusion to the formation of the Government would therefore represent a further important step following the presidential elections and the agreement to form a Government of National Unity.
This is an important basis for further cooperation with Germany and the international community. The ambitious reforms presented by Afghanistan at the London Conference in December 2014 can only be implemented promptly with a functioning government.
Background information:
The Afghan Parliament confirmed eight ministerial candidates on Wednesday. Ten candidates were rejected. Voting on the cabinet posts still to be filled was postponed until after the end of the parliamentary winter recess in March.
