*EPF406 08/22/2002
Transcript: Gen. Franks Says Stability Is Long-Term Issue in Afghanistan
(U.S. commander briefs media in Kazakhstan August 21) (1090)

Army General Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief of the U.S. and coalition military effort in Afghanistan, says he believes the international community will continue "for years ahead" to work with the Karzai government in Afghanistan on stability issues.

During an August 21 press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Franks also was asked about U.S. planning regarding a possible attack on Iraq. He said that he is carrying out required contingency planning to ensure that credible military options can be presented to President Bush. Franks also suggested that Bush "will continue to be thoughtful" about what to do about Iraq.

Following a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Franks thanked the Kazakh official for his country��s participation in the ongoing global war against terrorism. He also praised the growing military-to-military relations between the two nations.

(begin transcript)

Press Conference
Gen. Tommy R. Franks, Commander-in-Chief (CINC), United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)
Presidential Administration Building
Astana, Kazakhstan
August 21, 2002

GEN. FRANKS: Good morning. My name is Tommy Franks and I��m responsible for the American Forces which are prosecuting the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan. Indeed, it��s a pleasure to be back in Kazakhstan and I��ve been honored this morning by a meeting with President Nazarbayev. The purpose of the meeting was, very simply, to tell him thank you for the fact that Kazakhstan aligned very quickly with our efforts in Afghanistan and remains a very important coalition partner for us in these efforts. I explained to the President that I believe the efforts thus far in Afghanistan have been very positive. They have been positive because of the great support that the Kazakh people and the President himself, as well as the Minister of Defense, have provided us in this effort. So, I very simply said, "thank you." As I said, I��m pleased to be here with the Minister and the President.

Q: The experts think that a U.S. attack on Iraq is just a question of time -- what can you say about it?

GEN. FRANKS: I think that my own President has pretty well described it, in his very thoughtful way, when he has said that the United States of America believes that Iraq would be better off with a regime change. Since I don��t really understand all of the diplomatic issues and political discussions associated with that, I confine myself to the business of military planning so, that��ll be the effort I��ll be about in the future: conducting the planning that is necessary in order to be sure that our nation, the United States of America, and its allies, will have credible options which can be presented to the President. My expectation is that he will continue to be thoughtful, as he has been in the case of Afghanistan up to this point. And that probably is the very best and most honest answer I can give you.

Q: How do you describe the military situation in Afghanistan today? Do you expect any serious attacks on the part of the Taliban or other terrorist groups this year?

GEN. FRANKS: I think that��s a very good question, and I appreciate it. I would say that if you look back one year, you will see that great changes have taken place in Afghanistan. Of course, the Taliban today no longer controls Afghanistan. The Loya Jirga has been completed as of the end of June. The people of Afghanistan have selected a government and the task of our coalition, which stands at about 70 nations today, in the days ahead will be to work with this transitional administration that we see in Afghanistan to provide for its ability to mature, so that it can, in fact, lead the country of Afghanistan on behalf of some 26 million people. Now as we all know, there are security issues in Afghanistan, certainly. Afghanistan has been without peace for a great many years and there are a great many -- perhaps the world is "equities" -- inside that country, and those equities or those groups will continue to contend for power in that country. And so, the process, as we move forward, in fact, will need to address the stability situation in Afghanistan. I believe that the international community will continue to work with the government of President Karzai, in fact, for years ahead, to be able to do that.

Q: What do you think about U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation in this war on terrorism? Are any other actions planned, besides the providing of emergency airport landing facilities?

GEN. FRANKS: Perhaps, I can give a short answer and then his Excellency the Minister may choose to add something also.

I think what we��ve seen on many occasions, not only since September of last year but to my direct knowledge over the last three-to-five years, the military-to-military relationship between my own country and Kazakhstan has continued to grow. You know, Kazakhstan was among the very earliest countries to join in a coalition that stands in [the] face of terrorism. The example, which the Minister mentioned, of one of our transport aircraft being diverted recently for emergency reasons and landing in Kazakhstan is but one example. We have seen the growth of cooperation over the last several years, and I think that growth is much to be applauded, and I believe that the relationship will continue to grow in a future. Spasibo.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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