03 January 2002

Bush Invites Karzai to U.S.

BUSH INVITES INTERIM AFGHAN LEADER TO VISIT WITH HIM IN WASHINGTON

President Bush has invited Hamid Karzai, who chairs the interim government of Afghanistan, to visit with him at the White House, a senior administration official confirmed to the Washington File January 3.

The target date for the visit is sometime in February, but the precise date still must be worked out by both sides, the official said. When that has happened, the visit will be officially announced.

Karzai was sworn in as chairman of Afghanistan's interim government last month.

In a related development, Zalmay Khalilzad, the new Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan, will arrive in Afghanistan Sunday, January 6, and plans to meet with Karzai, the administration official said.

The White House announced December 31 that Bush had appointed Khalilzad as his Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

Khalilzad will also continue as the Special Assistant to the President for Southwest Asia, Near East and North Africa, reporting to Bush through National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, the statement said.