SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES AFGHAN PRESIDENT ON HIS INAUGURATION

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES AFGHAN PRESIDENT ON HIS INAUGURATION

Following is a statement attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General congratulates President Karzai on his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan.  This election, and the recently adopted Constitution the President swore to uphold today, are two key milestones in the building of a strong democratic State in that country.

The Secretary-General wishes President Karzai and the people of Afghanistan success as they take on the multiple tasks of stabilization and reconstruction, including the preparation of the upcoming parliamentary elections.  He is gratified by the contribution that the United Nations has been able to make to the process of transition so far and pledges his full support to the completion of the Bonn agenda.

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