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Afghan Paper Says New Parliament "Giant Step" Forward

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 18:00 CST

Text of editorial, entitled: "Last place the people can rely on" by Afghan state-run newspaper Etefaq-e Eslam on 20 December

The house of the nation [parliament] was opened during a special ceremony in the capital yesterday. According to the parliament's interim speaker [Mr Habibollah Ramin], parliament is the last place for the people to rely on. Now in line with the constitution, all the three pillars of a democratic administration have been completed. The people are also expecting the three legal and legitimate powers to coordinate their activities in order to protect national interests and improve conditions in general. As the president stressed in his speech, all activities should be carried out in accordance with national interests. Mr Karzai's report on positive changes over the past four years indicates that the Afghan people have so far scored considerable achievements. The president also touched on another important and noteworthy issue, according to which the government only receive 20 per cent of the total contributions provided by the international community. Therefore, the government and its related departments have not been able to carry out their duties effectively as expected.

However, the parliament's inauguration will be a giant step at a national level by legal and authorized foundations to develop the country.

Although the majority of observers argue that several groups with various and even opposing ideas have got into the parliament, this can reflect various political and social notions of our society and pave the way for all groups to express their ideas and beliefs. This way, different social and political views will be expressed through a legal channel, and tensions will no longer ignite armed conflict. The important issue is that MPs should pay sufficient attention to national interests and avoid self-centredness or what Prof Mojaddedi [the head of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the current chairman of the senate] calls illegal compromises.

With tears in his eyes, the president closed his speech yesterday by saying: Paying tribute to all those young Afghan men who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country's pride and dignity, we can proudly address the world today that Afghanistan, like a phoenix, has risen from the ashes. We should all help each other to safeguard this dignity.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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