Tomorrow (14 May) in Berlin, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will open the meeting of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan and Pakistan together with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin.

The members of the International Contact Group will discuss, among other things, good governance as well as long-term civilian support under the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework. Other issues on the agenda include transfer of security responsibility to Afghanistan, the preparation of the 2014 presidential elections, deeper regional cooperation and the political process of inner-Afghan reconciliation.

The International Contact Group comprises more than 50 states and international organizations. It is headed by the Special Representative of the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Michael Koch. The Group’s last meeting in Germany was held in April 2009.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Koch, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Ludin and the new US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador James Dobbins will jointly present the results to the press.