AFGHANISTAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MEETS PRESIDENT KARZAI , ANNOUNCES MORE AID FOR AFGHANISTAN AND OPENS THE NEW BRITISH EMBASSY
Record ID:
222813
AFGHANISTAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MEETS PRESIDENT KARZAI , ANNOUNCES MORE AID FOR AFGHANISTAN AND OPENS THE NEW BRITISH EMBASSY
- Title: AFGHANISTAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MEETS PRESIDENT KARZAI , ANNOUNCES MORE AID FOR AFGHANISTAN AND OPENS THE NEW BRITISH EMBASSY
- Date: 5th March 2004
- Summary: (W5) KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (MARCH 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW AND AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH ABDULLAH ENTERING BUILDING 0.12 2. VARIOUS OF AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI MEETING STRAW 0.40 3. SLV STRAW AND ABDULLAH WALKING OUT OF BUILDINGS TOWARDS THE PODIUM FOR THE NEWS CONFERENCE 0.44 4. SCU CAMERAMAN FILMING 0.48 5. WIDE OF STRAW AND ABDULLAH DURING NEWS CONFERENCE 0.53 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABDULLAH SAYING: "We are all grateful, the people of Afghanistan and the government of Afghanistan, to the government of United Kingdom for increasing their commitments in substantial way and manner recently. As you are all aware another 300 million pounds were added to the initial commitment in Tokyo for the period of five years time, which is very substantial commitment and very significant contribution to the cause of stabilisation of Afghanistan and reconstruction of Afghanistan." 1.27 7. SMV PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURE 1.32 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) STRAW SAYING: "We are all potential victims sometimes, actual victims of this terrorism. And regardless of our religious background we all have to be united in the fight against that terrorism because it is aimed to attack us all." 1.46 9. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF NEW BRITISH EMBASSY IN KABUL WITH BRITISH FLAG FLYING 1.51 10. WIDE OF BRITISH FLAG 1.55 11. VARIOUS OF STRAW GREETING EMBASSY WORKERS 2.08 12. WIDE OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY 2.12 13. WIDE OF STRAW AND ABDULLAH UNVEILING THE NEW PLAQUE FOR THE NEW EMBASSY 2.20 14. SMV ABULLAH , PLAQUE AND STRAW 2.27 14. CLOSE OF EMBASSY PLAQUE READING "THIS EMBASSY WAS OPENED ON 5TH MARCH 2004" 2.33 16. VARIOUS OF BRITISH ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) SOLDIERS AND GUESTS EATING AT THE PARTY AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF NEW BRITISH EMBASSY 2.49 17. CLOSE OF OFFICIAL BRITISH COAT OF ARMS 2.52 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th March 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Reuters ID: LVA3TJ1XPI3PSKNQT7NDIVBJSHZV
- Story Text: Britain promises more money and pledges
continued support for Afghanistan.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in the
Afghan capital Kabul on Friday (March 5) and met with
Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace.
On Monday (March 1), Britain promised an additional 300
million pounds ($560 million U.S. Dollars) in aid to
Afghanistan.
"We are all grateful, the people of Afghanistan and the
government of Afghanistan to the government of United
Kingdom for increasing their commitments in substantial way
and manner recently. As you are all aware another 300
million pounds were added to the initial commitment in
Tokyo for the period of five years time, which is very
substantial commitment and very significant contribution to
the cause of stabilisation of
Afghanistan and reconstruction of Afghanistan," said Afghan
Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah who held a joint news
conference with Straw at the presidential palace.
The Department for International Development said it
would give a total of 500 million pounds over five years.
Britain had pledged 200 million pounds over five years at a
donor conference in Tokyo in 2002.
The donation would include 75 million pounds per year
for reconstruction, as well as funds to help organise a
police force and army and fight the drugs trade.
"We are all potential victims sometimes, actual victims
of this terrorism. And regardless of our religious
background we all have to be united in the fight against
that terrorism because it is aimed to attack us all," said
Straw, who arrived in Kabul after a visit to neighbouring
Pakistan, where he praised President Pervez Musharraf for
his "courage and determination" in the U.S.-led war on
terror.
Straw and Abdullah formally opened the new British
embassy at the Wazir Akbar Khan district in the capital.
Embassy staff, officials and dozens of British soldiers
serving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
were present during the brief ceremony.
Straw was expected to fly out later on Friday.
Britain supported the United States in the 2001 war
that toppled Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, and British
troops initially led an international peace force deployed
in the capital Kabul.
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