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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