1 Afghan News Afghan News Afghan News May, 2012 The two-day North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- tion (NATO) summit in Chicago ended on May 21st with excellent progress on its main focus: creating a shared vision for the security of Afghanistan in the 10 years following 2014. H.E. President Hamid Karzai spoke at the event, thanking the leaders of the 28 member nations and their guests, including Japan as represented by H.E. Foreign Minister Koi- chiro Gemba, for their commitment and sacri- fices in the previously unprecedented global effort to free Afghanistan from international terrorists and extremists. Further, H.E. added that Afghanistan is committed to furthering the process of complete Afghanization of se- curity by 2014, when Afghan security forces will have reached a strength of 350,000. In his Inside this issue: Latest News speech at the event, H.E. President Karzai summarized the importance of this strength- ening: “Afghanistan’s security is fundamen- tally tied to the security of the region with implications for global security. A stronger Afghanistan, with capable and effective security forces, will be the lynchpin of sta- bility and security in the region, and a reli- able partner of the international community. Therefore, your contribution to the future development of the ANSF, for which we are very grateful, is a judicious investment in the defense of regional and international security.” In a declaration by NATO members at the conclusion of the summit, a consensus the time frame and process was reached, and the commitment of the organization and mem- (Continued on page 2) Latest News Pg.1-3 Photo Gallery Pg. 4 NATO Summit in Chicago brings consensus in further Afghanization of security Select economic growth indicators 7.4% - Afghan eco- nomic growth antici- pated during the cur- rent year Nearly US $700 - Current per capita income, as compared to US$180 in 2002 US$2 billion - Reve- nue collected in Af- ghanistan this year. By 2024, due to im- proved capitalization of mineral resources, this will be in the range of nearly US$5 billion
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Afghan NewsAfghan NewsAfghan News May, 2012
The two-day North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-tion (NATO) summit in Chicago ended on May 21st with excellent progress on its main focus: creating a shared vision for the security of Afghanistan in the 10 years following 2014. H.E. President Hamid Karzai spoke at the event, thanking the leaders of the 28 member nations and their guests, including Japan as represented by H.E. Foreign Minister Koi-chiro Gemba, for their commitment and sacri-fices in the previously unprecedented global effort to free Afghanistan from international terrorists and extremists. Further, H.E. added that Afghanistan is committed to furthering the process of complete Afghanization of se-curity by 2014, when Afghan security forces will have reached a strength of 350,000. In his
Inside this issue:
Latest News
speech at the event, H.E. President Karzai summarized the importance of this strength-ening: “Afghanistan’s security is fundamen-tally tied to the security of the region with implications for global security. A stronger Afghanistan, with capable and effective security forces, will be the lynchpin of sta-bility and security in the region, and a reli-able partner of the international community. Therefore, your contribution to the future development of the ANSF, for which we are very grateful, is a judicious investment in the defense of regional and international security.” In a declaration by NATO members at the conclusion of the summit, a consensus the time frame and process was reached, and the commitment of the organization and mem-
(Continued on page 2)
Latest News Pg.1-3
Photo Gallery Pg. 4
NATO Summit in Chicago brings consensus in further
Afghanization of security
Select economic
growth indicators
7.4% - Afghan eco-nomic growth antici-pated during the cur-rent year Nearly US $700 - Current per capita income, as compared to US$180 in 2002 US$2 billion - Reve-nue collected in Af-ghanistan this year. By 2024, due to im-proved capitalization of mineral resources, this will be in the range of nearly US$5 billion
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Afghan News, November 1010
According to Bakhtar news, “Mr. Ryuji Yamane also held detailed discussions on the Tokyo Conference and a broad range of bilateral and regional topics with H.E. Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin.”
The late Commander Massoud, mar-
tyrs honored with national holiday
In honor of national hero Ahmad Shah Massoud and those who are martyred for the country, September 9, the day that Commander Massoud was tragically taken from the world by enemies of peace, will from now be observed as a national holiday. A hero against foreign invasions and extremism, the late Com-mander Massoud’s memory serves to inspire those who wish to further the cause of peace and the betterment of lives, as do the memories of so many martyred.
H.E. Foreign Minister Rassoul sends
appreciation to Madame Ogata for
JICA leadership, Afghan partnership
Upon her transition from president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to an advisor to the Japa-nese government and JICA as well, Ma-dame Sadako Ogata, the invaluable im-pact of this amazing woman was recog-nized, and deepest gratitude was offered by H.E. Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, who sent a letter to this effect to Tokyo. In the letter, H.E. Dr. Rassoul expressed that Madame Ogata facilitated Japan’s selfless and generous role in bettering the lives of Afghans, describing her as having further enhanced the long and already strong relations between the nations. H.E. also added that he looked to build upon her legacy with together
with her successor, Dr. Akikhiko Ta-naka.
World Midwifery Day recognized
World Midwifery Day is celebrated on May 5th internationally; in recogni-tion, the Ministry for Public Health in coordination with the association of midwives held a celebratory event in Kabul. Within Afghanistan, midwives and their increased capacity has been a large factor in reductions of maternal and child mortality. According to H.E. Minister for Public Health Suraya Dalil the ministry has trained some 3000 midwives and pres-ently more than 800 persons are being trained in institutes and midwifery schools nationwide, recognizing the importance of continuing the education of these excellent resources.
New hospitals and medical schools
opened
A 500-bed civilian hospital with state-of-art medical technology was opened in Mazar-e-Sharif on May 12th in a ceremony attended by Hon. Governor Attah Mohammad Noor, H.E. Public Health Minister Suraya Dalil, Director of Public Health in Mazar-e-Sharif Mirwais Rabbi, and H.E. Ambassador Rüdiger Königof Germany. The foun-dation stone had been laid in 2009 by then Minister of Public Health and current Ambassador to Japan Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie. Staff of the hospital are being trained to bring the hospital to the highest of international standards. The hospital will also serve as a center for national medical re-search. It should also be noted that the
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ber states to providing strategic support beyond 2014 was firmly stated. As H.E. President Barack Obama clearly phrased in a speech earlier in the ses-sion, "as Afghans stand up, they will not stand alone." The next stage in facilitating Afghani-stan’s future development in conjunc-tion with the international community will be the focus of the upcoming To-kyo Conference in July. H.E. President Karzai stated that at the conference, Afghanistan will submit “a strategic economic plan for more self-reliance in the decade beyond 2014. Our economic plan will aim to gradually reduce our dependence on international aid, utilize Afghanistan’s own economic potentials, and achieve sustainable and equitable development for all our people.”
H.E. Foreign Minister Rassoul and
H.E. Vice-Minister Yamane discuss
preparations for Tokyo Conference
H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zalmai Rassoul received H.E. Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryuji Ya-mane of Japan on May 6. Speaking of the warm and historical ties that bind the two nations, H.E. Dr. Rassoul ex-pressed, on behalf of the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, gratitude for Japan’s ex-ceptionally generous contributions, par-ticularly over the past decade. The two sides expressed satisfaction about preparations for the important international conference in Tokyo scheduled for early July. H.E. Vice-Minister Yamane added that the Japanese government will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the success of the conference.
Afghan News, May 2012
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Afghan News, May 2012
shrine in Shohadai Saleheen, Kabul province has been completed. The 17th Century shrine was prioritized as part of the drive to restore historical and cultural treasures around the coun-try.
Infrastructure development con-
nects more people
Construction work began this month on the Foladi Valley Road in Bamiyan with the assistance of Japan and the United Nations. The road will be paved for a stretch of 12.3 km and another 5.37 km will be covered with gravel in the valley; another 2 km of the road will be extended into Bami-yan New City and will be asphalted. Hon. Governor Habiba Sarabi was joined at the opening ceremony by H.E. Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi and officials from the United Nations. 4.5 km road was asphalted and opened to the public early this month in Trenkot, Urozgan province throught the assistance of the Australian Pro-vincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). Hon. Governor Amir Mohammad Ak-hondzada expressed his gratitude to Australia and announced plans to launch other projects in Trenkot city.
Afghan team captures 8 medals in
Asian taekwondo championships
The national taekwondo team won eight medals including three silvers and five bronze from 20th Asian championships held between May 1st and 12th in Vietnam. Silver medallists included Beijing Olympics hero Ro-hullah Nikpai. Bronze medal high-lighted winners included Masouda Karimi and Nila Ahmadi, both com-peting in the women’s division. 47 Asian nations took part in the contest.
facility is electrically self-sufficient, be-ing equipped with solar panels. In total, the project, which was built with the sup-port of Japan, Germany, and Sweden, was completed for US$25 million. The new hospital joins Balkh provinces al-ready comprehensive health care resource network, which includes another five district hospitals, 48 comprehensive and basic health facilities, 33 sub centers, and one thousand health posts and mobile teams. On May 17, construction work began on a new 80-bed hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis, malaria, and other ailments in Kabul with the assistance of the Japa-nese government. Japanese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Reiichiro Takahashi attended an opening ceremony. In order to stop tuber-culosis, there are now 2,000 centers across the country for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. A 56 year old public hospital in Nimroz province has received an upgrade, includ-ing the addition of a new 75-bed build-ing. The hospital will now have eight doctors, twice the number before, and will be able to accommodate up to 200 patients, 20 deliveries, and three opera-tions daily. Kandahar Health Science Institute was inaugurated on May 9th with the assis-tance of the United States. The two-storey facility is capable of educating up to 300 students at any time. A solar-powered student dormitory was also built for the school. One of the main foci of the center will be to train nursing and midwifery students. Earlier this month, a new 8-classroom building was opened for the teacher train-ing center in the Esa Khan area of Bami-yan with the assistance of the World
Bank. The school’s 900 students (60% of which are female) had been previ-ously studying in rental houses. The school is set to expand with the addi-tion of two more buildings next year.
New schools opened nationwide
31 new school buildings with a total of some 200 classrooms were opened in Panjshir province’s central Shatal and Bazarak districts. The buildings will facilitate the education of thousands. On May 3rd, two 8-classroom school buildings Hon. Governor Khairullah Anosh inaugurated in Samangan prov-ince with the assistance of Sweden and UNICEF: a girls’ primary school in Robatak village and a middle school in Shorabiak village.
World Press Day marked
The World Press Freedom Day, cele-brated in numerous nations on May 3rd annually, was observed in a ceremony held at the International Press Center in Kabul. The ceremony was by journal-ists representing both public and pri-vate media outlet. Seeking to further protect the rights and freedoms of the press, Afghanistan has adopted a com-prehensive law. H.E. Minister for In-formation and Culture Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen addressed atten-dees, congratulating them on their work to within the nation and encour-aged them to further let the truth be heard domestically and internationally. Other speakers at the event included Ms. Shfiqa Habibi, head of Women Journalist Association.
Construction work completed on
Safar Shrine in Kabul
Construction work on the Safar Zeyrat
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Kabul enjoys multiple movie theaters, each featuring three films daily. Two of these theaters are shown below. Top, viewers of a movie at Ariana Cinema; bottom, a projection-ist at Pamir Cinema (both photos by Danish Siddiqui).
Afghan News, May 2012
Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo 2-2-1 Azabudai, Minato ward, Tokyo, 106-0041 Tel: 03-5574-7611
Fax: 03-5574-0195
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Afghanistan's first bowling alley, "Strikers," in downtown Ka-bul. This entertainment spot with 12 lanes and a restaurant was opened last fall by owner Meena Rahmani, the young woman pictured below, and self-funded. While new to the sport, some of the customers are bowling scores even in the 200s already. (top photo by Kuni Takahashi of the New York Times, bottom photo by Jonathan Strauk)
