G8 foreign ministers lament Afghan corruption

ALESSANDRA RIZZO

Associated Press Writer= TRIESTE, Italy (AP) â?? Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy lamented corruption and the lack of basic services such as health and water in Afghanistan, saying Friday that better cooperation among countries in the region was needed to promote stability.

The foreign ministers from the world's industrialized nations endorsed Pakistan's battle against Taliban insurgents and promised to work more with the country's government "in the face of terrorism, extremism and militancy." They called for better regional cooperation in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking in the region.

Improving security in the troubled region is a focus of the three-day meeting in this northeastern Italian city.

Italy, the host of the meeting, sought to broaden participation in the talks, arguing that Afghanistan is a problem that needs to be addressed regionally. As a result, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan participated in Friday's session, and a joint statement was issued.

In the statement, the ministers said that, despite some efforts by the Afghan government, "insecurity, widespread corruption and capacity shortfalls continue to complicate the delivery of basic services at the local level, including health, education and water."

President Hamid Karzai has been criticized both at home and abroad for corruption in his administration but he is the favorite in the Aug. 20 vote in Afghanistan. The administration of President Barack Obama in its early days called Karzai's government inefficient and corrupt, but U.S. officials have toned down criticism of a leader who may win a second five-year term.

The statement said the G-8 countries "acknowledge that the pursuit of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region are linked."

"The G-8 remains committed to working with the Pakistani government as it endeavors to strengthen functioning democratic institutions, and its civil society in the face of terrorism, extremism and militancy," it said.

The statement also looked at drug trafficking and the opium trade, which help fund extremists, saying that it was urgent to find alternative sources of income.

Italy had also invited Iran to attend the talks, arguing that it could play an important role in talks on Afghan stabilization. But Rome retracted the invitation after Iran failed to respond, and amid concerns over Iran's violent crackdown on protesters.

Talks Friday were devoted to cultural cooperation, border management and illicit trafficking. On Saturday, the delegates will look at economic development, refugees and migrations, and food security, with other international players joining the discussions.