LOC20:55
17:55 GMT
BERLIN, May 22 (KUNA) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Danish Prime
Minister Fogh Rasmussen agreed Tuesday on extending time of their troops
stationed in Afghanistan who are participating with NATO's International
Security Assistance Force operations in Kabul.
In a press conference the two leaders stressed importance of combating
international terrorism and continue with implementing peace and security in
the whole region.
Rasmussen also expressed grief for the loss of three German soldiers and
Afghani civilians last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Merkel and Rasmussen are among other European leaders who are
participating in a two-day meeting of the Africa Partnership Forum scheduled
here in Berlin.
The meeting aims at how the G8 can help the world's poorest continent.
The meeting will also make recommendations for the preparations for the G8
and African Union summits, according to a German government source.
The meeting also comes just weeks ahead of the summit of the Group of Eight
(which are the most industrialized nations) in Heiligendamm in northern
Germany where Merkel is due to unveil new initiatives to fight poverty in
Africa.(end)
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KUNA 222055 May 07NNNN