Monti, Karzai sign bilateral accord

ROME, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed an agreement on long-term bilateral cooperation.

Monti, who met with Karzai Thursday in Rome, said Italy wouldn't "abandon" Afghanistan by withdrawing its 4,200 troops and pledged to support the Karzai government in the "delicate process of reconciliation with the armed insurgency," provided that the Taliban "renounce violence, recognize the [Afghan] Constitution and respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan," ANSA reported.

Karzai invited Monti to visit Kabul "soon" and thanked him for Italy's efforts to help Afghanistan rebuild.

"Thanks to the money of Italian taxpayers ... you have placed a milestone for the reconstruction of the Afghan people," Karzai said.

The Afghan president also urged Italian businesses to consider locating in his country to "get benefits and bring benefits to Afghanistan."