By Stephen Kaufman Washington
File Staff Writer

Washington -- Quick-hitting projects to rebuild Afghanistan will demonstrate to the Afghan people that "the international community is ready and able to help them build better lives for themselves and their children," Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Alan Larson announced at the conclusion November 20 Meeting on Afghan Reconstruction.

Proposals emerging from the day's discussion included projects that will quickly repair roads, restore electric power, ensure clean water, and provide employment, such as hiring women teachers.

Speaking along with senior Japanese representatives and Undersecretary of Treasury John Taylor, Ambassador Larson said that the next steps would be taken by a steering group that will provide political guidance for reconstruction efforts and mobilize international funds. Participants in the steering group will include representatives of the United States, Japan, the European Union and Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the Japanese government will host a ministerial level conference on Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002.

Characterizing the discussions as "extraordinarily significant and interesting," Larson underscored the link between humanitarian and economic development. Undersecretary of Treasury Taylor also expressed the need to "make that connection clearer," in order to get faster relief to the Afghan people. "A great deal of stress at this conference was placed both on humanitarian efforts to help the Afghan people, as well as on economic reconstruction efforts, which will also aim to have a lasting help to the Afghan people. And in regard to both those items, there was a great deal of emphasis placed on how there is interaction between the humanitarian effort, which is already under way, and the economic reconstruction, which will be continuing in the years ahead," commented Taylor. In establishing the steering group, Ambassador Larson said the conference participants envision "a light and effective organization, one that will provide some real political momentum."

At the ministerial conference to be held in Japan, the international community will be formally called upon to meet the challenge of Afghan recovery based upon both the results of the steering committee meetings, and the needs assessment that will be done by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Islamabad on November 27-29.

The following nations and institutions participated in the November 20 Meeting on Afghan Reconstruction: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Office of the UN Special Representative to Afghanistan, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Program, UN High Commission for Refugees, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Afghan Support Group, European Union, Organization of the Islamic Conference, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).