Afghan President, Australian Premier Stress Need for Further Cooperation

Afghan President Hamed Karzai has thanked Australia for its backing in the war on terror and its financial support for reconstruction. Karzai and visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also stressed the need for further cooperation and coordination between Afghanistan and the international community to achieve the greatest benefits for the people of Afghanistan. Karzai and Rudd were speaking at a joint news conference aired live by National Afghanistan TV on 22 December.

Opening the news conference, Hamed Karzai welcomed the Australian prime minister to Kabul, saying that it was the prime minister’s second visit to Afghanistan – his first visit as the Australian foreign minister from the opposition party, and now as the prime minister of Australia – and thanked the people of Australia for their generous cooperation with Afghanistan in the war on terror, and for their financial support in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Karzai briefly spoke to journalists about the history of Afghan-Australian relations, saying that relations started when Afghan camel convoys reached Australia a long time ago. The people of Australia valued our historical relations and offered us support and came here to serve us in very tough conditions.

Kevin Rudd, speaking in English superimposed with a Dari translation, said he was glad to be visiting Afghanistan for the second time, and that they were happy to be able to play their part in Afghanistan. Rudd said he had visited his country’s troops serving in Urozgan Province and that they were working together with Afghanistan’s security forces for stability, security and prosperity of the people in the area.

In response to a question from an unknown journalist on their future measures in the war on terror, the Australian prime minister said they were trying to make sure that reconstruction activities were going smoothly. He said Australia would remain committed in Afghanistan for a longer period of time, as discussed with the president. He added there were undoubtedly challenges, including security challenges, but he was confident that their forces, in partnership with the Afghan National Army, would achieve further success in securing the province’s long-term stability.

In response to the same question, Hamed Karzai, in Pashto, said the Australian troops were offering good services to the people of Urozgan, and that the people had shown satisfaction with the performance and efforts of the Australian forces for security in their province. He stated that Australia had committed 110m dollars for two more years in Afghanistan and that the amount was in addition to the previous Australian donation made to Afghanistan.

An Australian journalist, speaking in English superimposed by Dari translation, said NATO was planning to increase the number of its peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan. She asked about the consequences if NATO-member countries did not agree with the increase.

Karzai replied that they were doing all in their power to make the war on terror successful in Afghanistan.

The Australian prime minister said Dutch and Australian troops were working together in Urozgan, and that he supported and admired the recent decision by the government of the Netherlands to extend their military mission in Afghanistan.

In response to another question, in English, by an unidentified journalist, asking about the poor security situation and lack of government control in some parts of Urozgan Province, Hamed Karzai said the government could establish its rule in the province, but did not try to do so just to prevent civilian casualties, and even to prevent the death of Taleban fighters as they were humans too. He added that they had been trying to maintain control of the area through other means and not through military channels.

The Australian prime minister also reiterated that maintaining control of the situation in some areas was not possible through military channels, but things could improve through other measures, including development projects.

A BBC correspondent, speaking in English, asked Karzai about the main topics of discussion with leaders of different countries regularly visiting Afghanistan at this time of the year.

Hamed Karzai said one of the satisfying things and good moments over the past six years had been the strengthening and improvement of relations with the international community. He added that his discussions with different world leaders had focussed on ways of further building up the war on terror, and on ways to better deliver services to the people.

Hamed Haidari, from Tolo television, referred to reports on the NATO decision to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan, and other reports of further international assistance to Afghanistan. He asked the Australian prime minister whether the increase in the number of NATO troops was because the insurgents had grown stronger or whether there were other factors for the increase.

The Australian prime minister said they would remain committed to Afghanistan, but reiterated that they had still not made a decision to increase the number of their troops in the country. He said he was in Afghanistan to visit his country’s troops after his election as the prime minister of Australia, and also to assure President Karzai of his country’s commitment in Afghanistan.

He said they would continue their efforts with Afghan and international allies to help stability and security in Afghanistan.

In response to the question, Hamed Karzai said Afghanistan had, for some time, wanted better coordination of international assistance so that the reconstruction in Afghanistan was delivered and carried out the way the people of Afghanistan wanted with better coordination and cooperation of the international community. The international community heard the message correctly and agreed with it. This was one of the reasons for the appointment of a UN special envoy, Karzai said. He added they had had unofficial discussions with the international community, but the UN secretary-General had so far not put forward any specific proposal on the issue.

Closing the news conference, Hamed Karzai, speaking in English, congratulated all countries of the world, and the countries that had troops in Afghanistan, on the arrival of Christmas.

[Note: As most of the questions and answers were in English and superimposed with a Dari translation, it was not possible to hear the exact words used by the leaders and quote them directly. The report is based on the Dari translation aired live by National Afghanistan television.]

Originally published by National Afghanistan TV, Kabul, in Dari 1240 22 Dec 07.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.