Military

DATE=04/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN/PLEDGES (L-CQ)

NUMBER=2-288295

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: REFILING to CORRECT Dobbins actuality ///

INTRO: Donors at a United Nations Conference are pledging millions of dollars to help rebuild Afghanistan¹s police and military forces. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports money also was promised to strengthen Afghanistan¹s judicial system and to eradicate the heroin and narcotics trade.

TEXT: Many countries, including neighboring Pakistan, Iran, China, and India pledged support for Afghanistan¹s efforts to rebuild the country's military and police forces.

The U-S envoy for Afghanistan, James Dobbins, says the Bush Administration has asked Congress for 278-million dollars in additional funding. At a donors conference in Tokyo in January, the United States pledged 290 million dollars for Afghan reconstruction. Mr. Dobbins says the additional funds will be earmarked for counter-narcotics programs, as well as training, salaries, reconstruction and other assistance for Afghanistan¹s military and police forces.

He says a different country or institution has agreed to take the lead in coordinating funds for each of five targeted areas.

/// DOBINS ACT ///

On military training, the United States has agreed to take the lead, and been requested to do so by the Afghan interim authority. On police, it is Germany. On counter-narcotics, it is the United Kingdom. On demobilization, it is the U-N mission in Afghanistan. And, on support for the judicial, penal and administration of justice sector, it is the government of Italy.

/// END ACT ///

Afghanistan¹s foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, calls security his country's most urgent need. He says it will take time before Afghanistan will have a national police and military force. Until then, he says, the international security force will be needed to keep the peace throughout the country.

The Afghan foreign minister urged countries to follow through on their commitments.

/// ABDULLAH ACT ///

If we do not receive contributions time-wise, we will be in trouble, and the whole process would be in trouble, and peace and stability would be in trouble. In today¹s meeting, this was very much evident, that that awareness was there on the part of the international community. And the interest, which different countries showed in aspects of

security, was a sign of that willingness and that interest.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Abdullah said Afghanistan cannot rely on the presence of a multi-national force to keep the peace forever. He says the contributions will enable Afghanistan to establish the security forces it needs to maintain stability. (Signed)

NEB/LS/TW