NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Taliban reintegration
(28 Jan 2010) SHOTLIST 1. Various of NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen surround by media 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO chief: "I would say that a reconciliation and reintegration process could contribute to a long term solution in Afghanistan on two conditions: Firstly, that it is a process led by the Afghans themselves, the Afghan government, and secondly, that all groups involved in this process will accept the Afghan constitution and the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law. But provided that they do that, I could see it as an element in the solution." (Reporter question: Do you think that the United States or that NATO would accept eventually having a Taliban minister of justice or a minister of defence or having a powerful role within any future Afghan government?) "As I said, it has to be a decision taken by the Afghans themselves and it is of course a prerequisite that those people engaged in this reconciliation and reintegration process will accept the Afghan constitution and basic democratic principles. But if they do I don''t see any obstacle." 3. Cutaway of Rasmussen surrounded by press 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO chief: "I would expect two concrete results, firstly an approval of the overall framework for a gradual transition to Afghan-led responsibility within security and secondly a strong commitment from the international community to assist the Afghan government in economic and social development of Afghanistan and in that respect also a strong commitment from the Afghan government to improve governance, including a strengthened fight against corruption in Afghanistan." 5. Pan from Rasmussen being interviewed to media centre STORYLINE NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday said he "did not see any obstacle" to a member of the Taliban taking up a role in the Afghan government, provided democracy and the Afghan constitution were respected. Asked about whether a member of the Taliban could fill a justice or defence minister position or take up a powerful role in a future Afghan government, Rasmussen said "it has to be a decision taken by the Afghans themselves, and it is of course a prerequisite that those people engaged in the reconciliation and reintegration process will accept the Afghan constitution and basic democratic principles." On Thursday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a global meeting that he will soon convene a peace conference in his country to lure Taliban fighters to renounce violence, but he still expects foreign troops to stay for up to a decade. Karzai called on delegates from about 70 nations and world bodies to support a plan to reintegrate Taliban insurgents into mainstream society with offers of housing and jobs in the police, army or agriculture. International allies have said they will pledge at least 500 million (m) US dollars for the reconciliation fund and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States would back it if insurgents pledge to eschew violence, renounce ties to al-Qaida and embrace democracy after more than eight years of combat. Taliban fighters have been taking over wider swathes of the country and successfully attacked the centre of Kabul, power base of the feeble central government led by Karzai. Al-Qaida leaders have regrouped near the Pakistan-Afghan border. The United States and its NATO allies are sending 37,000 more troops in a bid to blunt the Taliban''s military momentum but President Barack Obama has said he plans to start withdrawing some US troops by July 2011. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
