NATO Has No Other Alternative Than Being Successful In Afghanistan

ISTANBUL - NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin said on Sunday that NATO had no other alternative than being successful in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a panel discussion on the role of NATO in Afghanistan held as a part of the conference ``NATO At a New Crossroads`` jointly organized by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and U.S. think-tank organization German Marshall Fund, Cetin said that a peaceful and stable country could be ensured with the support of NATO and international community. He noted that NATO`s wish to increase provincial reconstruction teams should be considered within this framework.
Cetin expressed hope that NATO would take a positive decision on the matter at its Istanbul summit.
Elections would be held in Afghanistan in a free atmosphere for the first time, Cetin stated.
Cetin said that 20 percent of Afghan parliament was comprised of women and Afghan economy grew by 25 percent.
Noting that the number of girl students had risen in Afghanistan, Cetin said that 3 million Afghan refugees had returned to their countries.
Cetin recalled that there was need for support of the international community to eliminate deficiencies left in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan would join ``family of modern nations`` again after its reconstruction ended, Cetin said and stated that it would show NATO`s success in the country.
``If we can`t beat terrorism, terrorism will search for new means to defeat us,`` Cetin said.
Cetin added that Afghan people could trust NATO and their friends.
Later, Cetin told A.A correspondent that international organizations should continue to support Afghanistan, and said that Afghanistan was a ``field of test`` today.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.06.2004