KABUL - Afghanistan is to sign a strategic agreement with France ahead of the Istanbul conference, Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
According to the MoFA, it has received a copy of the agreement from the French Foreign Ministry.
Based on the agreement, Paris is committed to continue supporting Afghanistan in different fields even after 2014.

While the Istanbul conference on Afghanistan is to be held in a few days, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the countries in the region to honestly support Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism as well as in the peace efforts and the second phase of security transition.

The MoFA says it will submit a draft to the Istanbul conference to be officially ratified.

"We hope the Istanbul conference will be fruitful and reach practical decisions and improve mutual trust between Afghanistan and the region," MoFA spokesman, Janan Musazai, said.

According to the MoFA, the agreement between Afghanistan and France will be implemented for a period of five years after which the two countries will extend it.

Istanbul conference is scheduled to be held on November 3nd with participation of all the countries in the region.