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Money Can't Buy Afghanistan Prosperity
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
By Richard Hanson
Asia Times Online

A very urgent need is to reconstruct the agricultural sector, which includes such high priorities as clearing landmines, food security and water management and irrigation systems.

TOKYO
Twenty-three long years of bitter addiction to fear, terror and war destroyed Afghanistan as a normal country. Two days of haggling in a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday produced an international pledge to provide a hefty amount of more than US$4.5 billion over various time frames, in money and other aid to begin rebuilding the country, virtually from scratch. More than $1.8 billion is earmarked for use this year.

The challenge, however, goes further than money. Afghanistan's month-old interim government and the aid donors who participated in the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan know there are no guaranteed cures for the damage already done - physical and human.

Withdrawing from a chaotic war mentality - the only reality understood by half the population - and instilling a peace mentality will be fraught with twists and turns, warns one Afghan leader.

"Things don't move in a straight line," said Sadako Ogata, the strong-willed co-chair of the conference and Japan's special envoy to Afghanistan, referring to the possible pitfalls of reconstruction. "With time and persistence things are done. Afghan people realize this is their chance."
(More: Asia Times Online News Source)
2002 © Asia Times Online Co, Ltd.

Dan