President Karzai Returns from Spain, Stresses
Worldwide Cooperation for the Fight against Terrorism
Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan
03/12/2005
Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid
Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, returned
today from his three-day visit to Madrid, Spain.
During his visit to Madrid, the President participated
in the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security.
The President addressed the Summit and stressed the need of
worldwide cooperation to fight terrorism, as well as the strong
commitment of the Afghan Government to fighting this threat.
The President emphasized the importance of strengthening rule
of law in poor countries as a means of ensuring that such countries
do not become terrorist havens. The President also highlighted
the strong desire of the Afghan people for democracy and the
positive progress made by the country over the last three years.
The President held bilateral talks with H.M. Juan
Carlos, King of Spain, H.E. José Luis Rodríguez
Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, the Foreign and Defence Ministers
of Spain, and with the President of Croatia. The President reiterated
the gratitude of the Afghan people for their assistance in the
security and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The President thanked
the Spanish Government for creating a P.R.T. in Qala-e Naw,
the capital of Badghis Province. The Afghan people deeply appreciate
this assistance bringing reconstruction and security to one
of the poorest parts of Afghanistan.
On March 11th, the President attended remembrance
ceremonies of the March 11 2004 terrorist attacks in railway
stations in Madrid, which caused around 180 deaths and injured
900 people. The President, with the Defence Minister of Spain,
also paid respect to the 62 Spanish soldiers who died in a plane
crash in Turkey, on their way back to Spain, after finishing
their duty in Afghanistan.
