January 27, 2012- In Rome on Thursday evening, President Hamid Karzai and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti signed a long-term strategic partnership agreement that enhances Italy's areas of assistance to Afghanistan.
At a joint press conference following the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Monti said the partnership accord lays the foundation for the Italian’s long-term cooperation with Afghanistan. "The main message of today's meeting is that Italy's responsibilities and partnership will not lessen with the withdrawal of our military forces in 2014," added Prime Minister Monti.
Prime Minister Monti said Rome intended to increase its economic cooperation with Kabul and stressed that the development of Afghan infrastructure was of crucial importance to Italy. "Italy will not abandon Afghanistan, but would be involved in more civilian and economic aspects,” added the PM.
The Italian premier also said his country supports the Afghan government in their efforts for peace process and reconciliation and said, “Afghanistan has made significant progress in the peace process and we are grateful to the Afghan government for its leadership and the growing and effective co-ordination between the Afghan institutions,"
Addressing in the same press conference, President Karzai said he was pleased to have signed an important agreement on strategic cooperation with Italy. “On behalf of the people of Afghanistan, I thank the Italian government for all its contributions and assistance to Afghanistan.”
President Karzai invited Italian businesses to come and benefit from Afghanistan mineral resources, and bring benefits to Afghanistan".
President Karzai also invited Prime Minister Monti to visit Afghanistan at a convenient time.
The long-term partnership agreement provides for Italy to assist Afghanistan in political, security, economic and counter-narcotics issues past 2014.
