*EPF506 08/15/2003
Text: U.S. Backs Karzai's Efforts to Strengthen Afghan Central Government
(State Dept. says U.S. deeply committed to working with President Karzai) (290)

The United States has endorsed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reforms aimed at asserting the authority of the central government in Kabul throughout the country and improving provincial governance.

In a statement released August 14 by acting State Department spokesman Tom Casey, the Bush administration restated its view that Karzai's transitional government was the legitimate authority in Afghanistan, based upon the Bonn Process and the subsequent Emergency Loya Jirga.

"We share President Karzai's view that improving security and governance in the provinces is essential to achieving our common goals of creating a moderate and stable Afghanistan," said the statement.

Following is the text of the State Department statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
August 14, 2003

STATEMENT BY TOM CASEY, ACTING SPOKESMAN

Afghanistan: Changes in Provincial Leadership

The United States and the international community strongly support the Bonn Process and the Transitional government created by the Emergency Loya Jirga under the Bonn Agreement. The United States remains deeply committed to working with President Karzai as he rebuilds the institutions of government and seeks to bring the benefits of peace and stability to every region of Afghanistan. The United States endorses President Karzai's reforms designed to assert the legitimate authority of the central government and to improve provincial governance. We share President Karzai's view that improving security and governance in the provinces is essential to achieving our common goals of creating a moderate and stable Afghanistan.

A prosperous and secure Afghanistan is the desire of the Afghan people and in the interest of international peace and security. The United States encourages all parties to work together toward this goal.

(end text)

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

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