RI STRESSES NEED FOR RECONCILIATION IN AFGHANISTAN

Jakarta, Jan 29 (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his address at the London conference on Afghanistan stressed the need for reconciliation among the warring groups in the country, according to a foreign ministry spokesman here.

"At the conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday (Jan 21), Indonesia, represented by the foreign minister, appealed to the conflicting parties in Afghanistan to reconcile to bring peace to their country," the spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, said here Friday.

Marty also expressed Indonesia's readiness to give capacity building assistance to Afghanistan.

He disclosed Indonesia had since 2003 been assisting Afghanistan by training Afghans in various sectors such as agriculture, education, science and technology.

"The foreign minister also underlined the importance of the role of countries around Afghanistan in supporting its stability and peace," said Faizasyah.

The conference on Afghanistan in London, attended by foreign ministers and high officials from 70 countries, discussed the situation in Afghanistan and actions that need to be taken to bring peace to the war-torn nation.***