Germany and the United Arab Emirates are about to jointly undertake another major reconstruction project in Afghanistan. At their talks today, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreed to cooperate on the rehabilitation of the airport in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

After their meeting, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement today (12 January) in Berlin:

“The new airport for Mazar-e-Sharif is a huge, high-profile reconstruction project for Afghanistan, of great importance for the region and beyond.

Once the airport has been completed, it will open the door to more civilian reconstruction across the region and, thanks to its air control facilities, will also give an important boost to aviation control and safety in Afghan airspace, in which traffic is increasing.

I am particularly pleased that we will implement this beacon project together with our UAE partners. We are already working together very successfully in the region, and wish to further extend this cooperation as and where possible.”