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| Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: Dialogue with the Canadian Government, 2007-2008 |
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- February 2007: CCG wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
 , urging greater priority for efforts to build peace in Afghanistan, primarily through supporting the Action Plan for Peace, Reconciliation and Justice (APPRJ) as a made-in-Afghanistan plan for accountability, restoration, and lasting peace. News coverage by the CRC News office.
- March 2007: On behalf of the Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay responded to CCG's letter by affirming Canada's support for the APPRJ and outlining Canada's integrated approach to the Afghan mission.
- July 2007: CCG again solicited from the Prime Minister and party leaders a commitment to open and constructive debate on Canada's mission, including debating more widely than just security and counter-insurgency issues.
- December 2007: On behalf of the CRC in Canada, CCG made a submission to the Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan ("Manley Panel") , asking that Canada address the root causes of conflict in Afghanistan by investing in diplomacy, aid and comprehensive reconciliation efforts, while still taking care of pressing security concerns. "True peace in Afghanistan," said the CCG's Mike Hogeterp of the presentation, "must start on a foundation of reconciliation, hope, and a very real sense of trust and healing among Afghans." The submission was profiled by both the CRC News Office and denominational magazine The Banner.
- January 2008: The Manley Panel delivered its Final Report to Parliament, urging a shift in focus for the mission, and setting out conditions for extending Canada's military commitment.
- February 2008: new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier responded to CCG's July 2007 letter , noting specifically that "Canada supports the full implementation of the Action Plan," and rehashing Canada's funding and support of justice and governance NGOs in Afghanistan.
- March 2008: Parliament debated and passed a motion for a renewed military, training and reconstruction mission in Afghanistan until 2011.
Learn more:
CRC Synod's War and Peace position
CCG's peacebuilding toolkit: audio, maps, links and readings
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Committee for Contact with the Government | (800)730-3490 | CCG@crcna.ca | Contact Us
3475 Mainway | Burlington, Ontario, Canada | L7R 3Y8
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