21 March 2003
Transcript: U.S. Donates Training, Equipment to Afghan Police
(Ambassador Affirms U.S. Commitment to Afghan Police Force) (560)
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Dr. Robert Finn told a group of Afghan
police officers that the United States is "strongly committed" to help
Afghanistan build a professional police force "that protects the
safety and human rights of the citizens it serves."
Finn spoke in Kabul March 19 to police officers who had completed a
five-day U.S. government police communications course, which will help
to facilitate radio communications between the Afghan Ministry of the
Interior in Kabul and forty main police stations throughout the
country.
"This communications training session and equipment donation to the
Afghan National Police Service marks the beginning of a series of U.S.
Government police training and equipment assistance programs which
will be initiated over the following weeks," Finn said.
"We hope that with the new skills you've learned this week that you
will share the knowledge with other officers in your districts whether
you are returning to duty here in Kabul, or to your stations in the
provinces," said Finn.
Finn also announced that, beginning in mid-April, a U.S.-led
international training team will also train police officers from
different Afghan provinces in basic training management, democratic
policing methods, and human rights. Those officers will then instruct
their subordinates in policing skills.
Following is a transcript of Finn's remarks at the police
communications class graduation:
(begin transcript)
Remarks for Police Communications Class Graduation
Dr. Robert P. Finn, Ambassador to Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan
March 19, 2003
Released by the U.S. Embassy Kabul
The United States of America is strongly committed to helping
Afghanistan mold its police service into a professional,
self-sustaining organization that protects the safety and human rights
of the citizens it serves.
I am pleased to see here today, police officer representation from all
of Afghanistan's provinces. Your participation in this five-day police
radio communications course shows a personal commitment from each of
you in helping to advance professional police services in your own
provinces.
Beginning March 24, the police radio equipment you have been trained
on will begin to be installed in forty main police stations throughout
Afghanistan over a ten-week period, linking the Ministry of Interior
in Kabul with each of the provinces.
In mid-April, a U.S.-led international training team will begin
developing police officer trainers from each province teaching them
skills in basic training management, democratic policing methods, and
human rights. Those officers will then begin to instruct
constable-level police recruits in basic police competency skills.
The U.S. Government is also refurbishing the building you are now
standing in, and in April, will begin to construct another building on
this same site, creating a basic police school for new police officers
and allowing the Ministry of Interior to host other types of
specialized and advanced police training programs in the future.
We hope that with the new skills you've learned this week that you
will share the knowledge with other officers in your districts whether
you are returning to duty here in Kabul, or to your stations in the
provinces. We congratulate you on completing the police radio
communications course, and look forward to witnessing the professional
progress of the Afghan National Police Service. [End]
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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