SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES HAMID KARZAI ON HIS ELECTION AS HEAD OF AFGHAN TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES HAMID KARZAI ON HIS ELECTION

AS HEAD OF AFGHAN TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly congratulates Hamid Karzai on his election by the Loya Jirga as the head of the Afghan Transitional Authority.  The Secretary-General has been following closely the proceedings of the Loya Jirga.  He welcomes the enthusiastic embrace of this democratic process by the Afghan people and their leaders.  Today’s election constitutes an important step towards peace and stability in Afghanistan, following the path set out in the Bonn Agreement.

The Secretary-General urges delegates to continue to use the peaceful forum of the Loya Jirga to pursue national reconciliation and to create a representative Government.  He looks forward to the successful completion of the Loya Jirga’s work and the inauguration of the new Transitional Authority.

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