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German parliament votes to end Afghan combat mission by 2014

28 January 2011 21:50 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The German parliament voted Friday to end Germanyâ€™s combat mission in Afghanistan by 2014, APA reports quoting CNN.
For the first time, the mandate authorizing the use of German troops in Afghanistan contains a time frame for the nationâ€™s troops to withdraw, said Guido Westerwelle, the foreign minister.
The mandate includes a 12-month extension of the current military mission in Afghanistan, the German Bundestag or parliamentary news office said.
"It is confirmation of the work of the government that weâ€™re not just lengthening the mandate, but that weâ€™re saying that it shouldnâ€™t be endless," Westerwelle said.
Germany has 4,590 troops serving with NATOâ€™s International Security Assistance Force.
"The time frame for withdrawal has been internationally coordinated and developed," the foreign minister said. "Thatâ€™s why itâ€™s good news for the men and women of the German army who have been hoping for a bipartisan majority in the parliament."