Malaysian FM To Attend Conference On Afghanistan In Germany On Monday

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Anifah Aman will represent Malaysia at the International Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn, Germany on Dec 5. A Wisma Putra (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) statement Saturday said the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, would chair the conference, with Germany as the host. The conference, to be held at the foreign ministerial level, with the theme "From Transition to Transformation", was first held, also in Bonn, in December 2001. It is aimed at mobilising and continuing the joint efforts undertaken by the international community to further explore ways to tackle issues in Afghanistan and set the future course for the country. A total 90 delegations comprising 1,000 participants, including from the United Nations and other international bodies, are expected to attend the conference. The ministry describes the invitation by Afghanistan for Malaysia to participate at the conference as something that represents a clear recognition of Malaysia's involvement as part of the international community in supporting and assisting Afghanistan. Malaysia's participation was especially valuable as a fellow Muslim country which had contributed directly towards the efforts to rebuild Afghanistan, the statement said. Malaysia has sent a 40-member medical contingent to the Afghan's province of Bamyan to provide medical services to local residents, in July last year, and will continue its presence in the country until 2014. Anifah is expected to deliver Malaysia's views and comments on the progress of development and the way forward for Afghanistan and its people in achieving long-term peace and stability. -- BERNAMA