AFGHANISTAN: U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY PUAL WOLFOWITZ ARRIVES FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
Record ID:
222918
AFGHANISTAN: U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY PUAL WOLFOWITZ ARRIVES FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
- Title: AFGHANISTAN: U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY PUAL WOLFOWITZ ARRIVES FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
- Date: 16th January 2003
- Summary: (U4) KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (JANUARY 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV/MV PAUL WOLFOWITZ, UNITED STATES (U.S) DEPUTY DEFENCE SECRETARY SEATED WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI (5 SHOTS) 0.33 2. SLV U.S. SOLDIERS IN ARMOURED VEHICLES SECURING PERIMETER AROUND RABIA BALKHI HOSPITAL; MV U.S. SOLDIER HOLDING MACHINE-GUN MOUNTED ON TOP OF VEHICLE (2 SHOTS) 0.42 3. MV SIGN AT ENTRANCE OF RABIA BALKHI HOSPITAL WHICH U.S. MILITARY IS HELPING TO REBUILD; MV WOLFOWITZ WALKING INTO HOSPITAL; MV WOMEN WORKING AT HOSPITAL WATCHING; MV WOLFOWITZ TALKING TO HOSPITAL OFFICIALS; SLV AFGHAN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WATCHING (5 SHOTS) 1.03 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAUL WOLFOWITZ, U.S. DEPUTY DEFENCE SECRETARY SAYING "There is real progress underway and I think that we are clearly moving into a different phase where our priority here in Afghanistan is increasingly going to be stability and re-construction. But if you measure from where we have come, we have come a very long way - if you measure if from where we have to go, there is still a lot more work to do." 1.25 5. MV MEDIA 1.28 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOLFOWITZ, SAYING "Well, obviously we would love to get him (Osama Bin Laden). If he is in Afghanistan we will get him, who knows if he is even alive? When we say we are shifting the focus here in Afghanistan to stability and reconstruction, what we are really saying is that while the hunt for terrorists continues, the main focus of effort, the centre of gravity, if you want to use a military term, is more and more on reconstruction and long term stability." 2.05 7. SLV EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL AND PILE OF BRICKS; SLV AFGHAN PUSHING CARTS PAST BUSY ROAD OUTSIDE HOSPITAL; MV U.S. SOLDIER HOLDING MACHINE GUN OUTSIDE PHARMACY (3 SHOTS) 2.20 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 31st January 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Reuters ID: LVAELINECZ86G9LOGX9I75MM0R23
- Story Text: United States Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz
has visited Afghanistan for talks with Afghan President Hamid
Karzai and to visit a local hospital which the U.S. military
is helping to rebuild.
U.S Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz held talks
with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Kabul on
Wednesday (January 15, 2003).
Wolfowitz stressed that the United States' role in Afghanistan
has moved into a different phase of reconstruction and stability.
He also visited Rabia Balkhi hospital in Kabul, which the
United States' military is helping to rebuild.
Afghanistan's infrastructure was badly damaged during the
long civil war and many hospitals are still poorly equipped
and in need of repair.
Since the Taliban fell from power in November 2001 many
aid organisations have been rebuilding schools and hospitals.
But Wolfowitz said that much more work was needed to
rebuild Afghanistan.
"There is real progress underway and I think that we are
clearly moving into a different phase where our priority here
in Afghanistan is increasingly going to be stability and
re-construction. But if you measure from where we have come,
we have come a very long way - if you measure if from where we
have to go, there is still a lot more work to do," he said.
He also added that the hunt for Osama bin Laden was
continuing in the background.
"Well, obviously we would love to get him (Osama bin
Laden). If he is in Afghanistan we will get him, who knows if
he is even alive. When we say we are shifting the focus here
in Afghanistan to stability and reconstruction, what we are
really saying is that while the hunt for terrorists continues,
the main focus of effort, the centre of gravity, if you want
to use a military term is more and more on reconstruction and
long term stability," Wolfowitz said.
The United States blames Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda
network for the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and
Washington.
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