Afghanistan: Press report

[TayTay]

US senator pledges continued US support for Afghanistan
Source: BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
Date: January 16, 2006

Text of report by Afghan state radio on 16 January

Hamed Karzai, president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, had a meeting with US Senator John Kerry in the Golkhana Palace yesterday evening. The Press Office of the President told a Bakhtar Information Agency correspondent that to begin with, John Kerry congratulated the Afghan president on the inauguration of the Afghan parliament. He said people could raise and resolve their issues in this common home. He described the start of the Afghan parliament’s work as a major step towards strengthening the pillars of the democratic system. John Kerry expressed gratitude for the achievements made over the past four years and said the US would continue assisting Afghanistan. The Afghan president expressed gratitude for the assistance of the US government and people, and said the progress we had made over the past four years was a result of the strong determination of the Afghan people and the international community’s assistance, particularly that of the US. We have laid the foundation of a democratic and developed society in Afghanistan. But it is not the end of our mission. We will make comprehensive efforts to make further progress. The Afghan president also spoke on Afghanistan’s problems and requirements, and said the Afghan people needed to obtain electricity, set up an agricultural sector, and train and equip the national police. The international community and the US will assist Afghanistan in this regard.

Afterwards, Speaker Mohammad Yunos Qanuni said he was pleased to meet John Kerry and added that Afghanistan elected a parliament after 30 years and that 68 of its members were women. Mr Qanuni added that the Afghan people wanted their country to be a good friend of the international community. The existence of our parliament is the result of the international community’s assistance and we are trying to play a constructive role in ensuring peace and rebuilding Afghanistan .
John Kerry was a former presidential candidate in the US presidential election, and is currently serving as a senator. This is his first visit to Afghanistan. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Dr Abdollah, Security Advisor Dr Zalmay Rasul and Minister Advisor on International Affairs Dr Rangin Spenta.

Source: Radio Afghanistan,

[ProSense]

1. Thanks for this.

I was becoming a little Kerry deprived.

One word about Afghanistan: infrastructure. I still believe Karzai is president of Kabul because the rest of the country (security wise) and it's infrastructure needs serious focus.

[karynnj]

2. Thanks for posting this

It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about Afghanistan when he comes back. Being there on such an awful day has to have been informative - we've been there 4 years and this is what's said:

"The Afghan president also spoke on Afghanistan’s problems and requirements, and said the Afghan people needed to obtain electricity, set up an agricultural sector, and train and equip the national police. The international community and the US will assist Afghanistan in this regard."

This is the successful model Bush wants to use in Iraq?

- I am so glad that the fact that he is in Israel was posted already.

[TayTay]

3. Ahm, I am a little worried

Goes to Pakistan, and they have that US bombing that did seem to kill 4 terrorists, but also killed 9 women and 6 children who were innocents.

Goes to Afghanistan and 26 people die in civil unrest.

Ahm, please come home soon. It's dangerous out there.

[karynnj]

4. I think all hear will be relieved when we hear he is back

Isn't he coming back Thursday? (but Iraq is very scary too. He really is a brave man.)

[TayTay]

5. I hope so.

But, I am a worrywort. I just don't like everything going on over there. I think today wa Israel and tomorrow and Thursday are Iraq and then home. That will be a relief.

[MH1]

6. Me too.

I will sure be glad when he's home.