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(Provisional Translation)

Fact sheet

December 9, 2004

Japanese-German Cooperation and Coordination
in the Assistance for Reconstruction of Afghanistan

Japanese

1. Coordination and Cooperation in Formulating Political process and Reconstruction Assistance Process

(1) In December 2001, after the Taliban regime collapsed, Germany hosted the Bonn Conference which outlined post-Taliban political process in Afghanistan and played a key role in bringing about the Bonn Agreement.
(2) In order to promote the political process in accordance with the Bonn Agreement, it was necessary to pave the way for reconstruction assistance. In this connection, Japan hosted the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan (Tokyo Conference) in January 2002.
(3) In late March 2004, Germany hosted the Berlin International Conference for a comprehensive review of the political process, reconstruction assistance and security in Afghanistan. As the major donors of reconstruction assistance, Japan and Germany, along with Afghanistan and the United Nations, served as co-chairs of the conference.

2. Coordination and Cooperation over DDR, Police Reconstruction, and PRT

(1) Japan is the lead country of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the ex-combatants (DDR) process. Germany is the lead country of police reconstruction and also one of the largest contributors to the ISAF, with some 2,000 soldiers from the German Armed Forces participating, as well as deploying Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) under the ISAF command in Kundus and Faisabad. Japan and Germany are cooperating in the reconstruction of security structure of Afghanistan by coordinating their efforts in DDR process led by Japan, police reconstruction process led by Germany and German PRT closely.
(2) Specific Cases of Coordination and Cooperation

DDR: Germany supports Japan's initiative

  • Japan, Germany and Afghanistan have been in coordination so that part of the soldiers discharged from the military in the DDR process will be re-employed as police officers in Afghanistan.
  • Germany has sent three officers to the IOG (International Observers Group) to monitor the DDR process.
  • AGEF, an NGO under GTZ (German Technical Cooperation Corporation) is contributing to the reintegration program. Also, JICA and GTZ cooperated in conducting job trainings for the discharged soldiers through the governmental ministries concerned in Afghanistan.

Police reconstruction: Japan supports Germany's initiative

  • Japan provided, in coordination with Germany, radio equipments, vehicles for traffic police, buses for police schools, and others to the Kabul Police in 2003. In addition, Japan provided, in coordination with Germany, medical equipments to the Police Hospital.
  • In March 2004, Japan decided to provide the Kandahar Police with telecommunication equipments and motor vehicles.
    • PRT: German PRT deployed in Kundus and Faisabad and Japan's cooperation
  • In Kundus, where German PRTs are deployed, Japan and Germany will cooperate in regional reconstruction assistance.

ISAF: International Security Assistance Force. Established following the resolution of the UN Security Council in December 2001 for the purpose of maintaining public security in and around Kabul. Major countries that sent forces are Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
PRT: Provincial Reconstruction Teams. It is a mixed team made up of military troops and economic cooperation personnel with the main purpose of regional reconstruction and development.
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