Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Begins Visit in Afghanistan

10.01.2011

No. 6-E

From 8-10 January, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will be in Afghanistan for a visit. He will be spending time in Kabul as well as Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. The foreign minister has meetings scheduled with Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul, and Governor of Helmand Province Gulab Mangal.

Paet will meet with members of the Estonian Defence Forces stationed in southern Afghanistan and the leader of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah.

Within the framework of his visit, the foreign minister will also visit Kabul University and the Afghanistan Centre and the Murad Khane School located at the university.

Paet confirmed that Estonia is prepared to participate in the stabilising and construction of Afghanistan’s society until the goals set by the Afghan government and the international community are met. “Estonia bases its development co-operation with Afghanistan on the preferences of the Afghan government and focuses first and foremost on health care, improving the situation of women and children, and promoting good governing standards,” stated Paet.

The foreign minister also has meetings scheduled with European Union special representative Vygaudas Ušackas, chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Staffan de Mistura, the leader of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) David Petraeus, as well as NATO Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Mark Sedwill.

SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
+372 637 7654