28 February 2003
Bush, Afghan President Affirm "Ironclad" Partnership
(Joint Statement on promoting prosperity, human rights) (1230)
President Bush and Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai issued a joint
statement in Washington February 27 detailing the commitment of both
nations to rebuilding Afghanistan.
Both leaders underscored their common vision for Afghanistan as a
prosperous, democratic nation, "at peace, contributing to regional
stability, market friendly, and respectful of human rights" and
pledged their "ironclad and lasting partnership in pursuit of this
vision," according to the statement.
To support President Karzai's goal of a transition to broad-based
reconstruction efforts, the United States will focus its efforts on
particular projects in the areas of transportation, agriculture,
education, and health, the statement said.
The statement also noted that with the full support of the U.S.
Congress, the Bush Administration has committed $80 million to the
rebuilding of the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat road -- Afghanistan's main
transportation artery. Japan and Saudi Arabia are also participating
in the reconstruction of the road. The United States, in partnership
with Norway, will also provide $12 million to build a bridge over the
river between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, forming a key road link.
Agricultural projects will include a package of irrigation programs,
including $6 million to assist Afghanistan in managing water systems
that are already being repaired under cash-for-work programs and a $15
million project to restore irrigation systems and other essential
services, the statement said.
In the area of education, the United States is initiating a $60
million program to build or repair 1000 schools, print 15 million
textbooks, train 30,000 teachers, and offer accelerated learning
programs to 60,000 students, the statement said.
Health is also a priority sector for U.S. assistance, with $133
million planned for a three-year program that will construct or
rehabilitate 550 primary health care centers, expand access to health
services in rural areas, and address the basic health care needs of
women and children, the statement said.
According to the Joint Statement, the United States military will
continue with its primary mission to prevent terrorist elements from
undermining the security environment, while also helping to build the
Afghan national army -- a central priority for both governments -- and
facilitating reconstruction.
"The United States and Afghanistan will work together toward that day
when Afghanistan is fully secure and self-sufficient. In Afghanistan
as elsewhere, the United States covets no resources and seeks no
special advantage. President Bush and President Karzai reaffirm the
bond of friendship that unites the peoples of America and Afghanistan
in the common pursuit of a safer, freer, and more prosperous world for
the
benefit of all," the leaders concluded in a Joint Statement issued
February 27, 2003.
Following is the complete official text of the Joint Statement by
Afghan President Karzai and President Bush:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
February 27, 2003
JOINT STATEMENT
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND AFGHANISTAN
President Bush and President Karzai reaffirm their common vision for
an Afghanistan that is prosperous, democratic, at peace, contributing
to regional stability, market friendly, and respectful of human
rights. They affirm their ironclad and lasting partnership in pursuit
of this vision, and will work together to ensure that Afghanistan is
never again a haven for terrorists and that no resurgence of terrorism
threatens Afghanistan
The United States has demonstrated its commitment to Afghanistan,
providing U.S. forces to combat terror and secure stability, and
granting over $900 million in assistance since 2001. Working together,
Afghans, Americans, and our international partners have made great
progress in ridding Afghanistan of Al Qaida and Taliban elements. We
averted famine for some 7 million Afghans last year, and have begun
the essential and challenging work of rebuilding after decades of
dictatorship, war, and extremism. As a sign of confidence in the
future, some 2 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan over the
past year. But much remains to be done. This year will mark a shift
toward long-term reconstruction projects and the rebuilding of Afghan
institutions. The United States will be a full partner in this
transition, helping to secure stability and supporting reconstruction
throughout the country, including roads, schools, clinics, and
agriculture. We will continue our work together, with other partners,
to gather the resources that will hasten the day when all Afghans lead
prosperous and secure lives.
President Karzai has declared 2003 to be a year of national
institution building for Afghanistan, a year when the economic and
social benefits of peace are extended throughout the country.
Afghans are enjoying newfound freedoms and hope for a brighter
tomorrow. The United States will work with Afghanistan to extend the
accomplishments of the Bonn Accord of December 2001 and the Emergency
Loya Jirga of June 2002 so that Afghans can build a democratic,
constitutional government within the context of Afghanistan's unique
culture and history.
The United States military will continue with its primary mission to
prevent terrorist elements from undermining the security environment,
while also building the Afghan national army -- a central priority for
both governments -- and facilitating reconstruction. President Karzai
strongly favors the creation by the United States and other coalition
partners of a number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams that will work
closely with Afghan government ministries, UN agencies, and NGOs in
advancing common reconstruction objectives while also working with the
graduate battalions of the Afghan National Army to advance the mission
of enhancing security nationwide.
President Bush reaffirms that the United States will continue to be a
full partner in Afghanistan's reconstruction and, with the support of
Congress, continue with a comprehensive program of U.S. assistance to
Afghanistan at levels commensurate with the past. To support President
Karzai's goal of seeing a transition to broad-based reconstruction
efforts, the United States will focus its efforts on particular
projects in the areas of transportation, agriculture, education, and
health.
-- The United States has committed $80 million to the rebuilding of
the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat road -- Afghanistan's main transportation
artery. Japan and Saudi Arabia are joining us in this project. The
United States, in partnership with Norway, will also provide $12
million to build a bridge over the river between Afghanistan and
Tajikistan, forming a key road link.
-- Agricultural projects will include a package of irrigation
programs, including $6 million to assist Afghanistan in managing water
systems that are already being repaired under cash-for-work programs
and a $15 million project to restore irrigation systems and other
essential services.
-- In the area of education, the United States is initiating a $60
million program to build or repair 1000 schools, print 15 million
textbooks, train 30,000 teachers, and offer accelerated learning
programs to 60,000 students.
-- Health is also a priority sector for U.S. assistance, with $133
million planned for a three-year program that will construct or
rehabilitate 550 primary health care centers, expand access to health
services in rural areas, and address the basic health care needs of
women and children.
The United States and Afghanistan will work together toward that day
when Afghanistan is fully secure and self-sufficient. In Afghanistan
as elsewhere, the United States covets no resources and seeks no
special advantage. President Bush and President Karzai reaffirm the
bond of friendship that unites the peoples of America and Afghanistan
in the common pursuit of a safer, freer, and more prosperous world for
the benefit of all.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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