By NNN-Bernama
Tokyo : A two-day international conference on Afghanistan’s reconstruction which began here Tuesday will focus on cooperation in combating the production and illegal exportation of narcotics.
There are officials of 24 countries, including Russia, among the conference participants. Afghanistan has sent in a 13-member delegation of high officials, among them Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
Detailed consultations are to be held here on Tuesday by the political directors of the Foreign Ministries who will focus on matters aimed at assisting Kabul in strengthening security and restoring the economy.
On Wednesday, in an enlarged format, participants in the conference are to discuss the problems of combating the production and illegal exportation of narcotics from Afghanistan. Japan’s Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura is expected to address those present.
The conference is held within the framework of preparation for a discussion of the Afghan theme by the leaders of G-8 (Group of Eight) countries, who will gather on the Japanese island of Hokkaido in July this year.
A similar conference took place in Berlin in 2007.