In
the name of God
Distinguished Friends, Honorable guests,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all, our neighbors and friends
from the international community, to Kabul today. It is your and our
good fortune that we have a relatively sunny and not so cold day on
the occasion of this important Conference held here to strengthen bonds
of friendship and trust.
I am particularly happy to meet once again my esteemed counterparts
from our brotherly neighboring countries, H.E. Said Kamal Kharazi, the
Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who unfortunately
was unable to reach Kabul this morning for technical reasons, is represented
by a high-Ievel diplomatic advance team. With Iran we share history
and culture. Our Iranian brothers are keen to see Afghanistan rebuilt
and we appreciate their efforts in this regard.
I had the opportunity to meet H.E. Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, the
new Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
a few days ago in Bonn and established a good initial understanding
between the two sides. We are desirous to expand constructive relations
with our brothers in Pakistan in all fields of mutual interest.
I also recently met my friends, H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov, the Foreign
Minister of Uzbekistan, whose plane had to return to Tashkent this morning
for technical reason and was unfortunately unable to make it to Kabul,
and H.E. Talkbak Nazarov, the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan during
a visit to their respective countries. Our longstanding ties to both
countries are strengthened and will be crucial for building bridges
of co-operation through trade and other ventures.
I am also pleased to welcome H.E. Rashid Meredof, the Foreign Minister
of Turkmenistan, with whom we share a long border and are engaged in
important projects for the future that would benefit the whole region.
I recently traveled to the People's Republic of China, and was reassured
by my friend H.E. Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of China's continued
support in all sectors for Afghanistan, and I am happy to see China's
special envoy, Ambassador Sun Yuxi here with us.
The presence of high-ranking representatives to this Conference from
our friends in Japan and the Russian Federation is a testimony to the
importance that countries are attaching to Afghanistan's revival, stability
and reconstruction. These countries and others like the United States
of America, our European friends, our brothers in the Islamic world
and beyond have been instrumental in helping the Afghan people bring
positive change to Afghanistan over the last year since the Bonn peace
process started in Germany and led to the formation of a representative
and legitimate Administration following a long period of darkness.
Afghanistan's conditions prior to September 11, 2001 were not only detrimental
for Afghanistan itself, but did not produce any benefit for anyone else
either and became a danger to world peace and stability in our region.
You have all stood by and assisted the Afghan people during these challenging
times, and we appreciate your commitment to this country's peace, security
and reconstruction. We have many goals and aspirations that are shared
and common among us.
Undoubtedly, through mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, co-
operation and constructive engagement can we attain those goals. It
is our responsibility to build a stable, peaceful and prosperous region,
and your presence today n Kabul is another occasion to cement those
ties and strengthen bonds of trust and friendship.
I now have the honor to call upon a visionary and a man of peace, H.E.
Hamid Karzai, the President of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
to address you in his opening speech.
Thank you.
Kabul, 22 December 2002
_______________
