27 February 2003
White House Releases Bush Statements in Support of Afghanistan
(White House Release Coincides with Karzai's Visit to Washington)
(610)
The Office of Global Communications in the White House has released a
collection of President Bush's statements regarding U.S. support for
Afghanistan on the occasion of the visit by Afghan President Hamid
Karzai to Washington February 27.
Following is the text:
(begin text)
President Bush meets today (February 27) with Afghanistan President
Hamid Karzai. The U.S. commitment to this war-torn nation is
demonstrated in the Administration's policies -- and in the
President's words.
IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS...
THE RIGHTS AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN
"In Afghanistan, we helped to liberate an oppressed people. And we
will continue helping them secure their country, rebuild their
society, and educate all their children, boys and girls." State of the
Union, January 28, 2003
"We've seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom can be hard; it's
a hard struggle. We've also seen in Afghanistan that the road to
freedom is the only one worth traveling. Any nation that sacrifices to
build a future of liberty will have the respect, the support, and the
friendship of the United States of America." Remarks on Humanitarian
Efforts in Afghanistan, October 11, 2002
"Our commitment to a stable and free and peaceful Afghanistan is a
long-term commitment." Statement with Afghanistan's President Karzai,
September 12, 2002
"Our governments have acted as leaders in the international community
to address the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, including
repatriation and resettlement of refugees and the internally
displaced. While these challenges continue, it is now time for the
international community to take strong, visible steps to begin
Afghanistan's physical reconstruction." Joint Statement with Japan's
Prime Minister and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, September 12, 2002
"In Afghanistan, the Taliban used violence and fear to deny Afghan
women access to education, health care, mobility, and the right to
vote. Our coalition has liberated Afghanistan and restored fundamental
human rights and freedoms to Afghan women, and all the people of
Afghanistan. Young girls in Afghanistan are able to attend schools for
the first time." Proclamation 7584,Women's Equality Day, 2002, August
23, 2002
"And thanks to our United States military and thanks to a coalition we
put together -- and thanks to the coalition we have put together, we
have freed the people of Afghanistan from one of the most repressive
regimes in the history of mankind. Not only are we steadfast in our
desire to defend that which we believe, we also are willing to commit
resources to free a nation." Remarks at the Knoxville, Tennessee,
Civic Center, April 8, 2002
"[T]hat cause was to liberate the Afghan people from terrorist
occupation, and we did so. Next week, the schools reopen in
Afghanistan. They will be open to all -- and many young girls will go
to school for the first time in their young lives. Afghanistan has
many difficult challenges ahead -- and, yet, we've averted mass
starvation, begun clearing mine fields, rebuilding roads and improving
health care. In Kabul, a friendly government is now an essential
member of the coalition against terror." Remarks on the World
Coalition for Anti-Terrorism Efforts, March 11, 2002
"All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children to be
educated, and live free from poverty and violence. No people on Earth
yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude, or eagerly await the
midnight knock of the secret police. If anyone doubts this, let them
look to Afghanistan, where the Islamic 'street' greeted the fall of
tyranny with song and celebration." State of the Union, January 29,
2002
Office of Global Communications http://www.whitehouse.gov/ogc
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
