Finland has agreed to send more aid to Afghanistan after signing an agreement during a visit by the president of the war torn nation to Helsinki. The deal extends Finland’s aid to Afghanistan past 2014.
During the last decade, Finland has donated 190 million Euros of aid, a figure which will increase by about 30 million Euros per year following the co-operation agreement Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Finnish prime minister Jyrki Katainen signed on 29 April.
After signing the co-operation agreement, both world leaders held a press conference where Karzai thanked Finland for its continued support of Afghanistan.
Karzai also hoped Afghanistan could have further knowledge about Finland’s school system, ranked among the world’s best, and commented on New York Times reports about cash funds the CIA supposedly sent to his office.
During his press conference with Katainen, Karzai said the money was spent on helping the sick and wounded, housing costs, operational purposes, and various other government expenses. Karzai also said the participation of the Taliban in Afghanistan’s democratic process would not threaten the reforms his government has made.
“The Afghan people will not allow the progress that we have made in the past 10 years to be reversed,” Karzai said. ”We will not allow our schools to be closed, we will not allow our girls not to go to school, we will not allow our women not to participate in the economy, society and in politics.”