Murray McCully

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - Foreign Minister Murray McCully is attending a conference in Afghanistan next week as New Zealand's Government weighs up future commitments to stability in the troubled country.

The International Conference on Afghanistan will be held in Kabul on Tuesday.

"The Kabul conference is being held at a critical time for the government and people of Afghanistan, and for all those nations - including New Zealand - who are committed to its stability and security," Mr McCully said.

"This is the first international conference to be held at foreign minister level in Kabul, and to be run by the Afghan government, which is a sign that the Afghan government is taking greater responsibility for its own affairs."

The Government wants to phase out its presence in Afghanistan, with the rotation for New Zealand troops in Bamiyan Province set to end this September but is expected to be rolled over another year. About 70 Special Air Services in Kabul are due to leave in March but the SAS have asked for a smaller group to be able to stay on longer.

Mr McCully will also visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will meet his counterpart there Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to talk about political and trade relationships with the UAE and the wider gulf region.

Before returning home he would take part in ministerial meetings in Vietnam including the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Informal Consultations; the ASEAN-New Zealand Post Ministerial Conference; the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 8th South West Pacific Dialogue.

"Strengthening relationships with our regional partners is a key priority for the Government, and my attendance at these meetings signifies New Zealand's strong commitment to working together on regional and global issues," Mr McCully said.