Minister Nasir Ahmad Durrani, the Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan met today in his office with EU Ambassador to Afganistan, Mr. Franz-Michael Mellbin. In the meeting, that took place this evening at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Minister Durrani thanked European Union for its ongoing assistance to Afghanistan, in particular to the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and said, “The leadership team of the Ministry has the strong will to tackle the development issues facing the rural population in Afghanistan”. Also in this meeting Minister Durrani outlined his priorities and more focused on consolidation of MRRD's national programmes. In return, expressing EU's long -term commitment to supporting the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Ambassador Mellbin said, “European Union attaches great importance to the initiatives and programmes undertaken by the new Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in the area of community development, EU will continue to support this important work." The Ambassador said that EU will contribute USD 12 million through World Bank with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, to support the rehabilitation and development of rural communities.