OTTAWA, 28 February 2007 — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday announced a $200 million in additional funding for reconstruction and development activities in war-torn Afghanistan. The announcement was made following a meeting with Christopher Alexander, deputy special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for Afghanistan.
“Taken together, the projects funded by yesterday’s announcement will help build the peaceful, stable, democratic country the long-suffering Afghan people deserve,” said the prime minister.
The funding, to be disbursed this year and next on top of Canada’s annual allocation of $100 million to development activities in Afghanistan, will flow to five priority areas: governance and development ($120 million); counternarcotics ($30 million); policing ($20 million); demining ($20 million); and road construction ($10 million).
Harper told Canadians that security is a necessary precondition for reconstruction. “Our government would not have been able to make these much-needed investments in Afghanistan’s future were it not for the success of NATO and Afghan troops in beating back Taleban insurgents,” he said. “Through the announcement, we’re consolidating and enhancing the gains that have been made on the ground.”
Canada is among the leading nations involved in Afghanistan. In addition to helping secure the country from Taleban insurgents, Canada is also playing a key role in reconstruction, development, good governance, and law and order efforts in the recovering nation.
