*EPF215 06/29/2004
Text: U.S. Ambassador Says Violence Targeting Afghan Elections is "Barbaric"
(Khalilzad says claim that elections are "un-Islamic" is insulting to all Muslims) (1760)

U.S. Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad condemned recent terrorist violence against election workers in Jalalabad and against citizens carrying voter registration cards in Uruzgan.

In his opening statement at his June 29 press briefing in Kabul, Ambassador Khalilzad described the incidents as "barbaric" and expressed his "deepest sympathy" for the victims and their families.

"Tragically, we should expect that terrorists and extremists ... launch more such attacks in an effort to derail Afghanistan's historic elections," he said, adding that "Afghanistan's friends - the Coalition and the international community - will do all that we can to stop such violence and to hold the elections on schedule."

Khalilzad praised the Afghan people for showing courage in the face of the violence by continuing to seek their political freedom and having a voice in their future.

The perpetrators of the attack, he said, were revealing themselves as having a "vision of darkness and death," by killing unarmed men, women, and children. He also condemned them for claiming that Afghanistan's elections are "un-Islamic," which he described as "absurd."

"[T]he Islamic faith is fully consistent with democracy. There is nothing about a Muslim that makes him unable or unfit to vote to select his leaders and to shape the future of his family and his country," Khalilzad said, adding that he found claims to the contrary to be "an insult, personally to me a Muslim, and to Muslims in Afghanistan and around the world."

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul also released a June 29 update of progress made in the country in terms of security, voter registration, disarming militias, health, education, and other areas.

Among the highlights, the update said Afghans continue to register to vote at a rate of 100,000 per day, with a total of 5.2 million registered so far, 38 percent of whom are women.

Also, the number of trained Afghan National Army troops has reached 12,360, and there are now 17,000 trained Afghan National Police.

Regarding the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Re-integration (DDR) program targeting Afghan militias, the update said 10,234 Afghan Militia Force (AMF) soldiers have been verified, among which 3,430 have been both disarmed and demobilized. The second phase of the DDR program will begin shortly, targeting an additional 20 percent of the AMF structure, according to the update.

Following are the texts of Ambassador Khalilzad's opening statement and Embassy Kabul's June 29 update:

(begin text)

OPENING STATEMENT

Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad

Monthly Press Briefing
June 29, 2004

I would like to open today's meeting by focusing on the courage that has been shown in recent days by the Afghan people.

***

I am, of course, speaking about the recent terrorist violence directed against election workers in Jalalabad and citizens carrying voter registration cards in Uruzgan.

The incidents were barbaric, and we have the deepest sympathy for the victims and their families.

Tragically, we should expect that terrorists and extremists to launch more such attacks in an effort to derail Afghanistan's historic elections.

Afghanistan's friends - the Coalition and the international community - will do all that we can to stop such violence and to hold the elections on schedule.

***

The friends of Afghanistan have the greatest respect for way the Afghan people have reacted to this violence.

We have long known that Afghans are courageous in war. We are now seeing that the Afghans - average Afghan citizens - are also courageous in seeking political freedom and a voice in their future.

Afghans are on the frontlines of the battle for freedom in the world. Americans, who are partners in this struggle, have the deepest admiration for the defiance and determination of Afghans in the face of extremist violence.

It is easy to see why. Let me read to you a quotation from Fauzia Mohammadi, one of the survivors of the Jalalabad bombing: "They attacked us, and some of us died, and some of us were injured. But we will go back. I will go ahead, if my government wants me to. I'm not scared."

At the same time, Afghans continue to register to vote at a rate of 100,000 per day. Total registration has reached 5.2 million.

This shows violence will not deter Afghans in the pursuit of their freedom.

The recent killings are also revealing about enemy. Imagine the fact that these people are killing unarmed men, women, and children. Theirs is a vision of darkness and death. But the Afghan nation insists on rebirth.

According to reports, the gunmen involved in the killings in Uruzgan searched their victims for voter registration cards and denounced those who had them. The killers also claimed that elections were "un-Islamic."

We should pause and reflect on that absurd statement. The truth is that the Islamic faith is fully consistent with democracy. There is nothing about a Muslim that makes him unable or unfit to vote to select his leaders and to shape the future of his family and his country.

The ideology of the terrorists is an insult, personally to me a Muslim, and to Muslims in Afghanistan and around the world.

On behalf of the American people, I want to say that we share the sorrow at the loss of your brave fellow citizens. However, we are also inspired by the fact that the Afghan nation wants to do the right thing - to leave behind forever the extremism and the backward, totalitarian rule of the past and to seize this opportunity to secure their own freedom and self-government.

***

Also, before I take your questions, I wanted to just highlight a few of the important developments during the last month:

President Karzai had a very successful visit to the United States. We agreed to enter into discussions about forming a long-term partnership between our two countries and to focus additional assistance on the power and water sectors.

Regarding the security sector, the number of trained ANA troops has reached 12,360 and the ranks of trained Afghan National Police have reached 17,000.

In Istanbul, NATO has agreed to expand its operations in northern Afghanistan. ISAF will operate PRTs whose operations will cover nine additional provinces. This is the first stage of additional NATO ISAF expansion.

We have distributed a fact sheet that summarizes the progress in reconstruction during the past month.

Now, I welcome your questions.

(end text)

(begin text)

For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Lee
June 29, 2004
070-23-4553

U.S. Embassy Update

The focus of the United States and its coalition partners continues to be Reconstruction, Elections and Disarmament, Demobilization, and Re-integration (DDR). The facts below list progress made in Afghanistan on several fronts.

Disarmament, Demobilization, and Re-integration (DDR)

Background: Phase I of the DDR agreement announced before the Berlin Conference called for all heavy weapons to be cantoned and 40% of Afghan militia forces to be disarmed and demobilized by June 30th. The United States is working hard to support this process, which is being led by the Japanese and the United Nations.

Heavy Weapons

The cantonment of heavy weapons is moving forward in Kabul. Heavy weapons surveys are complete in all regions with the exception of Gardez, which is ongoing.

DDR

Of 85 Afghan Militia Force (AMF) unit rosters, 81 were received. The Regional Verification Committees have verified 10,234 AMF soldiers out of the 21,634 listed by regional commanders. This process remains ongoing. Of the 10,234 soldiers verified, 3,507 were disarmed - of those 3,430 were demobilized. 1,277 former soldiers have been reintegrated into civilian life. Phase II will begin shortly and will target an additional 20% of the AMF structure.

Afghan National Army (ANA)

The ANA has now trained 12,360 soldiers. The ANA has been deployed all over the country, recently to Ghor, to provide security and stability. The Ministry of Defense is deploying ANA Kandaks (battalions) in support of security operations for elections and voter registration efforts. Four Kandaks are being trained simultaneously at Kabul Military Training Center. Nine recruitment centers are now operational nationwide with 24 more planned.

Afghan National Police

The Afghan National Police now has 17,000 police officers, many of which have been deployed nationwide. The ANP continues to be trained and equipped with vehicles, weapons, communications systems and body armor. A border police facility is being built in Paktika Province.

Elections & Voter Registration

There are now over 1600 voter registration centers across the country. To date over 5.2 million Afghans have registered to vote, which reflects a registration rate of over 100,000 voters per day. Approximately 38% percent of those who have registered to vote are women.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)

There are now 15 U.S. and Coalition PRTs nationwide. Tarin Kowt, Sharana, Lashkar Gah and Farah will open officially in September. PRTs will spend $65 million on reconstruction projects nationwide this year. The PRT out of Gardez has supported two Paktika Governor-led missions to districts in Paktika to encourage the voter registration process. The Gardez PRT is also supporting the first mission in Paktia this month.

Counter-narcotics

The U.S. has initiated eradication and interdiction programs in Helmand, Nangarhar, Kandahar and Wardak provinces. 668 hectares of opium poppy has been eradicated in Wardak Province. Afghan Special Forces Narcotics Force has seized 20 tons of opiates and destroyed 17 labs in Badakshan, Nangahar and Lowgar Provinces since October 2003.

Health Clinics and Providers

There are 14 signed agreements with NGOs that will deliver health services to an additional 2.2 million people in 47 districts of 11 provinces. There have been over 300 trained health care providers. Distribution has begun of the $1.5 million in pharmaceuticals to REACH NGOs. USAID is supporting 250 clinic sites in 14 provinces serving nearly 5 million Afghans.

Education

Over 8000 students participated in the "Accelerated Learning Program."

Infrastructure

Secondary Roads -- 364 km of roads should be complete by the end of this calendar year & the remaining 642 km finished by the end of 2005. The first 10 km of construction is underway from Jalalabad to Asadabad. Over 20 km of road is under construction from Kandahar to Heart.

Market Centers

Thirteen market centers were completed last month. Over 100 market centers are programmed for construction; over 65 are currently under construction.

(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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