Consensus spreads for financial aid to Afghanistan
Published: 20 Oct. 2009, 21:54
Government officials expressed support yesterday for the need to provide additional assistance to U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.
The announcement came in response to a statement from Geoffrey Morrell, U.S. Defense Department press secretary, on Sunday that Korea could make more financial contributions to the war-torn country. According to a senior government official, who requested anonymity, government officials share the same view that terrorism should be eradicated.
The official said the Lee Myung-bak administration is strengthening Korea’s position in the world through reinforcing contributions to the international community. However, the official did not elaborate on how the assistance will be provided.
Another official, who also requested anonymity, said, “We believe that current scope of Korea’s financial support to Afghanistan is so small that it does not match its national power and global status.”
From 2002 through 2011, Korea will have sent $130 million to Afghanistan, which accounts for nearly 0.2 percent out of the entire amount other countries contribute.
In that same time period, Japan and Iran will have provided $2 billion and $500 million, respectively, in aid.
The government has said that playing an active role in the operations in Afghanistan along with the United States is necessary for the Korea-U.S. alliance, the official said.
“The principle of the United States is not to demand military help. It has constantly requested non-military support including economic assistance and humanitarian aid,” the official said. “Troop dispatch is not a matter for us to consider. It is a subject to be decided by politicians.”
Morrell, who is accompanying Defense Secretary Robert Gates on his upcoming Asia trip, told reporters that Afghanistan desperately needs financial assistance now.
By Yeh Young-june, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
The announcement came in response to a statement from Geoffrey Morrell, U.S. Defense Department press secretary, on Sunday that Korea could make more financial contributions to the war-torn country. According to a senior government official, who requested anonymity, government officials share the same view that terrorism should be eradicated.
The official said the Lee Myung-bak administration is strengthening Korea’s position in the world through reinforcing contributions to the international community. However, the official did not elaborate on how the assistance will be provided.
Another official, who also requested anonymity, said, “We believe that current scope of Korea’s financial support to Afghanistan is so small that it does not match its national power and global status.”
From 2002 through 2011, Korea will have sent $130 million to Afghanistan, which accounts for nearly 0.2 percent out of the entire amount other countries contribute.
In that same time period, Japan and Iran will have provided $2 billion and $500 million, respectively, in aid.
The government has said that playing an active role in the operations in Afghanistan along with the United States is necessary for the Korea-U.S. alliance, the official said.
“The principle of the United States is not to demand military help. It has constantly requested non-military support including economic assistance and humanitarian aid,” the official said. “Troop dispatch is not a matter for us to consider. It is a subject to be decided by politicians.”
Morrell, who is accompanying Defense Secretary Robert Gates on his upcoming Asia trip, told reporters that Afghanistan desperately needs financial assistance now.
By Yeh Young-june, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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