Published: 06 Feb 2013 09:32 GMT+01:00 | Print version
Updated: 06 Feb 2013 09:32 GMT+01:00
Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has pledged to continue to offer aid to Afghanistan, during President Hamid Karzai’s official visit to Oslo.
Stoltenberg said Norway would offer annual aid of 750 million kroner ($137 million) to the war-torn country which is one of the poorest and most corrupt in the world.
He said that the aid agreement -- which formalizes previously made pledges – would depend on Afghan authorities' commitment to "good governance, the rule of law, human rights, transparency and democracy."
"We have zero tolerance for corruption," he stressed, noting that Oslo had suspended development aid in the past when funds had been misappropriated.
According to graft watchdog Transparency International, Afghanistan, which is the second-biggest recipient of Norwegian aid, is ranked as one of the most corruption-riddled countries in the world alongside North Korea and Somalia.
During his visit on Tuesday, Karzai said that he plans to step down next year when his mandate expires.
"The question of me staying as the president beyond 2014 is out of the question," Karzai said when reporters asked about recent speculation that he was keen to stay on.
"Neither am I seeking a third term, nor does the constitution allow it. There will be an election and a new president will come," he said.
Karzai has previously said he would not stay in power beyond 2014, including at a meeting with US President Barack Obama last month, amid some concern that he could try to cling to power.
Karzai was elected in 2004, and re-elected in 2009 in a vote marred by accusations of fraud.
Afghanistan's next presidential election is scheduled for April 2014, just a few months before the end of NATO's mission.
|
Engineering Development Program- Norway
Location: Stavanger
|
|
Lead Engineer - XMT Engineering
Location: Ågotnes
|
|
Subsea Controls Engineer
Location: Bærums Verk
|
|
Business Enterprise Principal Consultant (Norway)
Location: Norge
|
|
Senior Engineer HVAC
Location: Trondheim
|
|
Senior Process Engineer
Location: Trondheim
|
|
Senior Subsea Engineers
Location: Ågotnes
|
|
Scrum Manager
Location: Sandnes
|
|
Subsea Installation Engineers
Location: Stavanger
|
|
Senior Corrosion Engineer
Location: Stavanger
|
|
Senior Engineer - Welding and Materials
Location: Stavanger
|
|
Project Accountant
Location: Stavanger
|
|
Product Sales Manager, Sweden Combisafe International AB
Location: Asker
|
|
Senior Project Manager
Location: Asker
|
|
Sales & Marketing Programme Manager
Location: Norge
|
|
Vice President EUR/ACIS
Location: Bergen
|
|
Engagement Manager
Location: Oslo
|
|
Cartographer / GIS Specialist
Location: Oslo
|
|
Senior Consultant
Location: Oslo
|
|
Account Manager
Location: Oslo
|
|
|
|
|
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
More news from France at thelocal.fr

Opening Statement at Conference on Protection of Civilians under International Humanitarian Law (Thu, 23 May)
"We all agree on one thing, however, that we have to increase our efforts to protect the civilians affected by armed conflicts. We must respect and uphold international humanitarian law and define what it means in practice", said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Espen Barth Eide, at the opening of the conference.
Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe: Strengthening the Impact of the Council of Europe’s Activities (Thu, 16 May)
- We meet at a very important moment. As we here from the Secretary General the founding principles of this organisation, democracy, human rights and the rule of law are again under pressure in Europa. We have to take that very seriously, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, in his statement at the Council of Europe's meeting.
Norway increases support for prevention of violence against women and children in Bolivia (Thu, 16 May)
“More than 70 % of women and children in Bolivia are victims of violence, most of them in their own homes. Norway is stepping up its efforts to respond to this extensive problem,” said State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arvinn Gadgil.
The Niwano Peace Prize to Gunnar Stålsett (Thu, 16 May)
Ambassador Arne Walther gave this message on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Espen Barth Eide, at the award ceremony.
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.