BERLIN — Britain, France and Germany unveiled proposals on Sunday for an international conference on Afghanistan later this year in order to press Afghans to take more responsibility for their own country."What is important, and this is our joint view, is to apply pressure in order to find a way to get the Afghans to appreciate that they have to take responsibility step by step," Chancellor Angela Merkel told a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
| Sorta the way Gordo does in Britain, especially when dealing with terrorists ... |
With the help of an upcoming review by the new US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, it will make clear to countries involved in Afghanistan "what job they have to do and what our common aim is", Merkel said.
"The Afghan government will then know what growing responsibilities are going to be coming their way," she said, "and of course so that the international engagement ... can be reduced."
"We believe that with the presidential election, the time has come."
"It is right in my view," Brown said, "that eight years since September 11, and after many achievements in Afghanistan ... that we look at how we can get the Afghans themselves more involved in taking responsibililty for their own affairs."
The conference, which Merkel said had been "informally agreed upon" with the United States and which would include the United Nations, would be focused on three areas: security, government and development, Brown said.