German foreign minister urges Karzai to sign Afghan-US security deal

KABUL: (MEP) – The German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with the Afghan president Hamid Karzai in ARG presidential palace.

Presidential palace media office following a statement, said the two sides discussed the bilateral relations between the two nations on various sectors.

President Karzai praised Germany’s commitment and assistance to Afghanistan and said the relations between the two nations had a deep-root.

The German foreign minister once again reiterated Germany’s long term commitment to Afghanistan and welcomed the government’s preparation for the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections.

Steinmeier also urged president Hamid Karzai to sign the bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington without any further delay.

He insisted on the importance of security agreement between Kabul and Washington and said that the pact would help the international community to continue its civilian mission in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

However, president Karzai insisted on his demands and said that the Afghan peace process should be practically started and raids on Afghan homes should be immediately stopped before he sign the bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington.

In the meantime, the German foreign minister said that his country was prepared to assist Afghanistan in peace process with the militant groups.