Political Counselor Haidari Delivers Remarks at the Arlington National Cemetery
Political Counselor M. Ashraf Haidari joined Iraqi Ambassador Samir Al-Sumaidaie to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the United States and allies in Afghanistan and Iraq at an event organized by the American Gold Star Mothers at the Arlington National Cemetery on April 9, 2009.
Expressing his respects to the Fallen, Haidari said, "I wish to extend the deep condolences of President Karzai, Foreign Minister Spanta, Defense Minister Wardak, and Ambassador Jawad to the families and loved ones of the Fallen in Afghanistan, who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate our nation from the tyranny of the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists." He added that "Without their sacrifices, the Afghan people would not have been free from fear, terror, and suffering—and the United States and the rest of the world would not have been a safer place for all of us today."
Haidari noted that the Afghan nation had lost many of its own sons and daughters in furthering the cause of freedom. "To the parents of the Fallen, please allow me to tell you that the Afghan parents—who have lost more than two million of their sons and daughters to decades of imposed conflicts on our country—share your deep pain and sorrow on the irreplaceable loss of your dear children in Afghanistan, where we continue fighting a common enemy," he said. Haidari noted that "Indeed, it is because of your children’s ultimate sacrifice that Afghanistan is free and we have a democratic Government today; it is because of your children's ultimate sacrifice that Afghan women are no longer confined behind walls and that seven million Afghan girls and boys are going back to school today; and it is because of your children’s ultimate sacrifice that Afghans are hopeful again about our secure future." He added that "We and the Afghan history will never forget your Heroes, who courageously defended the United States and saved the Afghan people from despair and oppression under a foreign extremist movement that had nothing in common with our core values or national vision."
"To the families and loved ones of the troops serving in Afghanistan today, please be assured that the Afghan people welcome and support your sons and daughters in uniform. The US forces are Afghanistan's liberators, and that is how the vast majority of the Afghan people perceive them," Haidari said. He added, "Afghans demand security, justice and democracy, which they know can only be attained by long-term international engagement in our country." He reminded the audience, "From early 1990s, we recall that that premature international disengagement from Afghanistan made our country a no-man's land where transnational extremists, terrorists and criminals freely roamed and used our stateless country to endanger international peace and security. The tragedy of September 11, 2001, is a sad reminder, and one that we should never forget."
Haidari concluded, "Freedom has never been free. Our three nations—Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United States—have sustained many losses in blood and treasure to reach this turning point in our history." He urged that the three nations be cautious and patient to achieve their long-term objectives. "Indeed, we collectively owe it to the sacrifices of the Fallen—including civilians of Afghanistan, of Iraq, and of the United States—to build upon our shared achievements thus far and to overcome the challenges facing us. Together, we can and must succeed to consolidate our hard-won liberty and to ensure global peace and justice for everybody,” Haidari noted.
Related News: Full Text of Remarks (.PDF)
