Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle this afternoon (27 January) met the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Helen Clark.

During their talks, the Minister informed Ms Clark about the Federal Government’s new Afghanistan strategy, which envisages among other things intensified civilian involvement.

Ms Clark was particularly interested in the Afghan Government’s programme for the reintegration of moderate Taliban, for which the international community has signalled support ahead of the London Conference. UNDP could also give support, she said. Ms Clark pointed out that the organization had considerable experience in the fields of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration in former conflict regions. As well as programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan, it is already running projects in 120 areas in Afghanistan.