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Donors look to rebuild Afghanistan

BERLIN (CNN) -- Western aid donors are to meet in Germany to look at way of helping the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The two-day Afghanistan Support Group conference - an annual event -- is opening as Afghan opposition groups were reaching agreement on a post-Taliban political structure.

In a statement the German Government said: "(Donor) talks will focus on taking stock of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, on necessary short and medium-term support measures.

"It will also look at the refugee situation, internally displaced persons and of returnees from neighbouring countries, as well as prospects for reconstruction,"

Government and international officials at the conference near Bonn of Afghan groups looking to Afghanistan's political future say the outcome of their negotiations could have a bearing on the donor group's decisions.

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Countries donating money to Afghanistan want to pass into an Afghanistan with a reliable, stable government and an interim political solution would be an incentive for donors.

The delegates in Bonn have agreed to set up an interim ruling council and hold elections within two years in the war-torn country.

Delegates from the member states of the support group and the European Commission will be joined at the donor conference by representatives from U.N. agencies and non-governmental organisations. The support group was founded in 1996.

The meeting will be opened by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Other speakers at the opening include Kenzo Oshimi, U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs; Ruud Lubbers, U.N. high commissioner for refugees; Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Red Cross, and Mark Malloch Brown, administrator of the U.N. Development Program.

Members of the support group, Afghanistan's 15 principal donor countries, include: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Germany currently holds the presidency of the group. Next year, Norway will take the presidency.