Afghan foreign minister makes brief visit
Beirut asked to share reconstruction experience
Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah held talks with the country’s top leaders
on Monday in the hope of benefiting from Lebanon’s experience in the area of
reconstruction.
Abdullah arrived in Beirut from Damascus late Sunday for a 24-hour visit, delivering a
message from interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai to Emile Lahoud that paid tribute to the
president’s efforts to reconstruct and develop Lebanon.
Speaking to reporters after delivering the message, Abdullah affirmed Afghanistan’s
interest in developing ties of friendship and cooperation with the international
community, especially Lebanon, and benefiting from its reconstruction expertise.
Abdullah, who will also be visiting Amman as part of his regional tour, met earlier with
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri for talks on developing ties between the two countries, as
well as on regional issues.
“I expressed the wish that we should utilize the experience and knowledge which
Lebanon has after years of turmoil and conflict in the construction of the country,”
Abdullah said.
He paid tribute to Lebanon’s “support and sympathy” for the people of
Afghanistan in the political process.
Abdullah said that the first steps for the reconstruction of his country have already been
taken, “but it is a long path... (which) we have begun and we are working on
it.”
Abdullah also said that his country did not bear hostility or an “aggressive”
attitude toward Arabs. Many Al-Qaeda members were of Arabs, including the group’s
mastermind, Osama bin Laden.
“(But) there were some individuals who (did not hail) from Arab countries. They were
from different parts of the world and they had one common terrorist agenda,” Abdullah
maintained.
He added that“the presence of a few individuals against the will of the whole
country, against the will of the whole nations and governments, should not be perceived as
an anti-Arab act.”
Abdullah was also received by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, who described the talks as
very useful and also expressed Beirut’s readiness to cooperate with Kabul in
restoring normal life and benefiting from Lebanese reconstruction expertise. In turn,
Abdullah said his country attached “great importance” to its relations with
Lebanon and to the possibility of making use of its experience.
He also expressed hope that together with the international community, “the people of
Afghanistan will pass this new challenge of reconstruction successfully, in all its
aspects.”
Abdullah also made a visit to Parliament, where he held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri.
Copyright © The Daily Star |
