Donors Press Karzai On Corruption

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
June 13, 2008
Pg. 16
By Helene Cooper
PARIS — The United States, Europe and more than 60 other countries and international institutions offered about $20 billion in aid for Afghanistan as part of a big donors conference here Thursday.
But amid the public pledges of support, officials were fretting over whether the Afghan government was doing all that it could to make sure the money went to rebuilding and not into the pockets of the country’s warlords and corrupt government officials.
More than half of the pledge total came from a previous commitment by the United States to provide $10.2 billion. Britain pledged $1.2 billion over the next five years.
Some of the largest increases came from France and Japan. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France promised to “more than double” French aid, to more than $165 million over the next two years, French officials said; and Japan also doubled its aid, to $550 million. Germany offered more than $600 million over the next two years.
The first lady, Laura Bush, fresh from her weekend trip to Afghanistan, called on international donors to “reaffirm our commitment” to the country’s success and showed slides from her trip to the assembled leaders, which included President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations.
Bringing up her discussions with women in Afghanistan, Mrs. Bush noted a sense of urgency within the country. “As the Afghan woman told me, this is our only chance,” she said.
Other leaders echoed her calls to stand by Afghanistan. “France shall retain its commitment to Afghanistan so long as it is necessary to win,” Mr. Sarkozy said. “We cannot give in to torturers.”
The World Bank pledged $1.1 billion over five years, and the Asian Development Bank pledged $1.3 billion, also over five years.
 
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