Statement by H.E. Hamid Karzai, President
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan On the Occasion of His
Official Trip to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates
H.E. President Hamid Karzai
05/22/2006
It is a tremendous pleasure for me to be in the
United Arab Emirates. I am grateful to His Highness Shaikh Khalifa
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE for his kind invitation
and his very generous hospitality.
I also take this opportunity to thank His Highness
the President, leaders and people of the Emirates for their
continued support to the people of Afghanistan now and during
difficult times in the past.
We are proud of our relations with the UAE, which
are very deeply rooted, and we are pleased that with this visit
we took another step in further strengthening our relations.
I am much encouraged by the warm interest that
the UAE leadership has shown in strengthening stability and
prosperity in Afghanistan, and in being part of this process.
Over the last four years, Afghanistan has taken significant
steps towards peace and prosperity. Without assistance from
the UAE and the rest of the international community, we would
not have achieved what we have today. So part of the purpose
of my trip today is to thank the UAE for its support to Afghanistan
over the past four years.
Both our countries are located very strategically.
Afghanistan is gradually regaining its historical place as a
land-bridge in this region, connecting South Asia Central Asia
and the Middle East. The UAE is today a significant economic
power in the region with extremely promising prospects for the
future. Cooperation in various fields between the UAE and Afghanistan
will not only benefit the people of the two countries, but will
also have a positive impact on the region as a whole.
Afghanistan today is a land of great promise -
it offers tremendous opportunities of business and investment.
Many global businesses have already come to explore and invest
in Afghanistan. I am pleased that the UAE’s Etisalaat
company is also in Afghanistan now. Today, I would like to invite
other UAE investors to come to Afghanistan and become part of
this historical opportunity.
Once again, I am very pleased to be here. I am
proud to have become part of a long tradition of brotherly relations
between our two countries.
I would like to invite His Highness President
Khalifa to visit Afghanistan in the near future. The Afghan
people would be proud to get the opportunity to welcome His
Highness and other leaders of the UAE to their country.
Thank you.
