Berlin Declaration
01 April 2004
We, the participants in the 2004 Berlin Conference on Afghanistan,
Committed to the vision of a secure, stable, free, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan as laid out in the Afghan Constitution and as reaffirmed in the speech of President Hamid Karzai held at this Conference, in particular welcoming the announcement to hold direct presidential and parliamentary elections in September 2004.
Noting with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved under the Bonn Agreement of December
2001 in fostering peace, stability, national unity, democratization, and economic development in Afghanistan, culminating in the adoption of a new Afghan Constitution in January 2004, which lays the groundwork for an elected Government and Parliament, and an independent Judiciary, which guarantees the constitutional rights of all its citizens – men and women – and adheres to the principle of human rights and the establishment of a self-sustaining, market-orientated economy.
Welcoming the achievements in the state and institution building process, in particular the peaceful holding of two Loya Jirgas which elected a President and adopted a Constitution, the progress in creating and strengthening the national security institutions, the adoption of key legislation, the re-establishment of a Central Bank and the successful launch of a new currency, the adoption of a National Development Framework and a National Budget, as well as the establishment of Commissions on Human Rights, Elections, Judiciary and Civil Service Reform,
Noting with satisfaction the progress made by Afghans and the international community in the fight against remnants of international terrorism, and the common resolve to defeat terrorists who undermine security and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan,
Welcoming the contributions and pledges towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction and reform programs made by countries at the Tokyo Conference of January 2002, that have helped avert a humanitarian crisis and resettle more than three million refugees and internally displaced people so far, and laid the foundation for economic development and growth in the future,
Determined to complete the Bonn Process by creating the conditions under which the people of Afghanistan can freely determine their own political future by establishing a fully representative government through free and fair elections in a secure and peaceful environment,
Determined to continue, in the spirit of the Bonn Agreement, as a common endeavor of the Afghan people and the international community, the tasks of rebuilding and reforming the political, social and economic structures of Afghanistan, with the aim of creating lasting peace, stability and economic development, and with a view to offering all Afghans in an equitable manner tangible prospects for a brighter future,
Agree
Welcome
Afghanistan totalling US$ 8.2 bn for the fiscal years 1383 – 1385 (March 2004 – March 2007), which includes a pledge of US$ 4.4 bn for 1383 (March 2004 – March 2005),
2002, in particular, the Declaration on Counter-Narcotics annexed herewith as well as the planned Conference on Regional Police Cooperation to be held in Doha on May 18 and 19,
Reaffirm on this basis that
Afghanistan and the international community shall continue to sustain a lasting partnership for the future, which will allow Afghanistan to complete the transition process begun with the Bonn Agreement, to reflect the will of its people, rebuild Afghanistan and create a secure, peaceful and stable country fully restored to its rightful place in the international community of free nations.