"Norway will intensify its efforts to promote lasting peace and rapid reconstruction in Afghanistan," said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen. "The success of the peace process depends on the Afghan Interim Administration receiving the financial support it needs to do the job it has been set to do. According to the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, there is an immediate and considerable need for funds. The Norwegian Government will therefore provide a further USD 2 million in development assistance to the new Interim Administration in Afghanistan," said the Minister.

Norway has already allocated USD 1 million in support to the Interim Administration. But the Administration is in great need of funds, and the Foreign Minister does not exclude the possibility that Norway will contribute additional funds at a later date if necessary.

The new allocation was announced in connection with State Secretary Vidar Helgesen’s visit to Kabul today. At the beginning of the year Norway took over the chairmanship of the Afghanistan Support Group (ASG), and State Secretary Helgesen is heading an ASG delegation that is visiting the Afghan capital on 13-14 January. The purpose of the visit is to initiate a dialogue with the Interim Administration and to meet UN representatives in the country, including Special Representative Brahimi, in order to ensure that the support to Afghanistan is coordinated.