German FM Announces U.N. Afghan Conference in Berlin

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 21, 2001

German FM Announces U.N. Afghan Conference in Berlin

The United Nations' conference on the future of Afghanistan will be held next week in Berlin, visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer announced in Washington on Tuesday.

The United Nations' conference on the future of Afghanistan will be held next week in Berlin, visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer announced in Washington on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Fischer said: "We are glad and honored to be the host for this meeting."

"We are looking forward now for the meeting of the U.N. with Afghan leaders to form a transitional government," Fischer said.

The German government will closely cooperate with the U.N., he said. "It's very important to push forward now and speed up this political process."

Before his meeting with Powell, Fischer said he had a phone call with Lakhdar Brahimi, U.N. special representative for Afghanistan who informed him the decision of the U.N. to have this meeting in Berlin. "We are very happy about that," Fischer said.

Germany Readies 3,900 Troops

Northern Alliance, U.N. Agree to Hold Talks in Bonn