by Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis, left, and Afghan finance minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal. Keystone / Valentin Flauraud At an international conference in Geneva to source funding for Afghanistan, Switzerland has renewed its annual CHF26 million (.48 million) pledge for another four years. The Swiss contribution, which will amount to CHF104 million up to 2024, is earmarked for projects to promote the rule of law, agriculture, and education, the foreign ministry wrote. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who opened the conference, said that it was a “critical year” for Afghanistan, where violence between Taliban fighters and government forces continue, and peace talks are currently showing little progress. Cassis nevertheless said that aid was not
Topics:
Swissinfo considers the following as important: 3) Swiss Markets and News, 3.) Swiss Business and Economy, Featured, newsletter, Politics
This could be interesting, too:
Investec writes Federal parliament approves abolition of imputed rent
Nachrichten Ticker - www.finanzen.ch writes Krypto-Ausblick 2025: Stehen Bitcoin, Ethereum & Co. vor einem Boom oder Einbruch?
Connor O'Keeffe writes The Establishment’s “Principles” Are Fake
Per Bylund writes Bitcoiners’ Guide to Austrian Economics
Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis, left, and Afghan finance minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal. Keystone / Valentin Flauraud
At an international conference in Geneva to source funding for Afghanistan, Switzerland has renewed its annual CHF26 million ($28.48 million) pledge for another four years.
The Swiss contribution, which will amount to CHF104 million up to 2024, is earmarked for projects to promote the rule of law, agriculture, and education, the foreign ministry wrote.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who opened the conference, said that it was a “critical year” for Afghanistan, where violence between Taliban fighters and government forces continue, and peace talks are currently showing little progress.
Cassis nevertheless said that aid was not unconditional. He expected a “clear development plan” with realistic goals from the government in Kabul, and that funding should be made available to the entire Afghan population.
The European Union (EU) also made such commitments clear, saying that the country – which relies on foreign money for three-quarters of its spending – must preserve democratic and human rights gains made since 2001, especially regarding women and children’s rights.
The EU, the United Kingdom, the US, and Germany, among others, also made significant contributions on Tuesday, with the overall amount pledged coming to some CHF10.95 billion – down from the CHF13.87 billion pledged at the last conference in Brussels in 2016.
You Might Also Like
New Geneva platform to ‘anticipate societal changes’
A new international platform is to be launched in Geneva to anticipate the effects of societal changes amidst the Covid-19 crisis, Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga said on Wednesday.
Inside Geneva: World trade at a crossroads
In this episode of our Inside Geneva podcast, we look at the role of the World Trade Organization as it chooses a new leader amid challenging times.
Swiss government wants extra CHF770 million to tackle coronavirus
The Swiss government has asked for an extra CHF770 million ($841 million) in funds to tackle the coronavirus fallout. This comes on top of the CHF31 billion in bailout funds approved by parliament since March.
Families face large differences in tax rates across Switzerland
A comparison of tax rates across different cantons and cities found that Zug – home to many multinational companies – offers the most attractive tax regime for families.
Swiss-UK financial services pact antidote to EU intransigence
Switzerland and Britain are thrashing out a post-Brexit financial services treaty that is being billed as a global standard for common sense. It also takes aim at perceived EU inflexibility that has seen the Swiss stock market frozen out of European markets.
Paternity Leave: ‘Nobody is talking about the indirect costs’
Switzerland doesn’t need two weeks of paternity leave, says Radical-Liberal politician Yasmine Bourgeois. The mother of three says if the proposal is accepted on September 27, left-wing groups will keep asking for more and more.
WEF Davos conference in doubt for 2021
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) flagship summit may not take place in Davos next year, businesses in the alpine town have been warned. The pandemic had already forced organisers to postpone the event from its usual January slot to a potential early summer date.
Swiss select ex-central banker for OECD top post
The Swiss government has nominated Philipp Hildebrand, a former head of the country’s central bank, to lead the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Tags: Featured,newsletter,Politics