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Skriven 2005-05-23 23:33:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0505232) for Mon, 2005 May 23
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Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 23, 2005

Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership




Since the fall of the Taliban regime in December 2001, the United States
and Afghanistan have made great progress in the pursuit of common strategic
objectives. Together we have disrupted international terrorist networks and
worked to ensure that Afghanistan will never again be a safe haven for
terrorists. The United States has supported the Afghan people as they have
established a moderate, representative government. During this time, the
U.S. Government and the American people have demonstrated a commitment to
an Afghanistan that is democratic, free, and able to provide for its own
security.

Afghanistan expresses the profound gratitude of the Afghan people to the
people of the United States of America. Thanks to the generosity of the
American people and U.S. leadership, this extraordinary effort has enabled
the Afghan people to regain hope and confidence and to renew their vision
for achieving prosperity and peace.

Afghanistan confronts important challenges to its security and its efforts
to build a government based on democratic principles, respect for human
rights, and a market economy. To address these challenges, Afghanistan
proposed that the United States join in a strategic partnership and
establish close cooperation, including regular, high-level exchanges on the
political, security, and economic issues contained herein and other issues
of mutual interest. The United States and Afghanistan plan to work together
to develop appropriate arrangements and agreements to implement their
strategic partnership.

This shared effort will be based on a number of key principles, including a
dedication to the rule of law, protection of the human rights and civil
liberties of all individuals regardless of ethnic affiliations or gender,
support for democratic governance, and reliance on the free market as the
best means to further Afghanistan's economic progress. The strategic
partnership's primary goal will be to strengthen U.S.-Afghan ties to help
ensure Afghanistan's long-term security, democracy, and prosperity. It
should contribute to peaceful and productive relations between Afghanistan
and its neighbors. It is not directed against any third country.

This partnership will serve as the basis for our common efforts to
cooperate in the war against international terror and the struggle against
violent extremism, to promote stability and prosperity in the region, and
to remain steadfast in supporting Afghanistan's campaign to eradicate poppy
cultivation, provide alternate livelihoods assistance, and fight the
production and trafficking of drugs. The partnership will be anchored in
the constitutions of our two countries, and will be guided by the United
States and Afghanistan's respective obligations under the United Nations
Charter and other international agreements and conventions.

Decades of civil war, political violence, and interference in Afghanistan's
internal affairs make Afghanistan's security, sovereignty, independence,
and territorial integrity particularly crucial areas for U.S.-Afghan
cooperation. To enhance Afghanistan's long-term democracy, prosperity, and
security, we intend to work closely together:

FOR DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

$ Support democratic good governance and the development of civil society
based on the rule of law and human rights and encourage broad-based
political participation in Afghanistan.

$ Help build strong, lasting Afghan Government and civic institutions and
support political traditions that are efficient and responsive to the needs
of the Afghan people.

$ Encourage the advancement of freedom and democracy in the wider region.

$ Support Afghanistan's initiative to restore the country's historic role
as a land bridge connecting Central and South Asia and to shift the pattern
of regional relations from rivalry to economic and political cooperation.

$ Foster cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors and deter
meddling in its internal affairs.

$ Support people-to-people exchanges and partnerships to strengthen ties
between American and Afghan society, thereby fostering common outlooks and
collaboration on the challenges and opportunities before us.

FOR PROSPERITY

$ Facilitate and support Afghanistan's integration into regional and world
economies and appropriate international organizations.

$ Help develop a legal and institutional framework for a thriving private
sector and an environment favorable to international investment in
Afghanistan.

$ Encourage and facilitate involvement of U.S. businesses in ventures that
accelerate the development of Afghan firms and the private sector.

$ Continue the reconstruction of Afghanistan and investments in the people
of Afghanistan and encourage other nations to do so.

FOR SECURITY

$ Help organize, train, equip, and sustain Afghan security forces as
Afghanistan develops the capacity to undertake this responsibility.

$ Consult with respect to taking appropriate measures in the event that
Afghanistan perceives that its territorial integrity, independence, or
security is threatened or at risk.

$ Assist the Afghan Government in security sector reform.

$ Continue to conduct counter-terrorism operations in cooperation with
Afghan forces.

$ Support Coalition assistance to the Afghan Government's counter-narcotics
programs.

$ Continue intelligence sharing.

$ Strengthen Afghanistan's ties with NATO.

$ Support border security initiatives.

It is understood that in order to achieve the objectives contained herein,
U.S. military forces operating in Afghanistan will continue to have access
to Bagram Air Base and its facilities, and facilities at other locations as
may be mutually determined and that the U.S. and Coalition forces are to
continue to have the freedom of action required to conduct appropriate
military operations based on consultations and pre-agreed procedures.

As Afghan Government capabilities increase, Afghanistan will continue to
cooperate against terrorism, to promote regional security, and to combat
the drug trade; the Afghan Government, over time, will move to assume
Afghan security force sustainment costs; and the Afghan Government intends
to maintain capabilities for the detention, as appropriate, of persons
apprehended in the War on Terror.

As Afghanistan develops its political system, the United States looks to
Afghanistan to respect human rights and develop a just and inclusive
society. Regular, free, and fair democratic elections, a free press, and
the active implementation of Afghanistan's constitution are hallmarks of
the necessary commitment to these principles. The United States relies on
the Government of Afghanistan to maintain its firm commitment against the
production, processing, and trafficking of narcotics and to assume
responsibility for countering narcotics as police, prosecutorial, and
prison capacity is developed and enhanced. Finally, the United States
relies on Afghanistan's commitment to create a legal framework and an
environment favorable to private sector and domestic and international
investment that offers economic opportunities to all Afghan people.

The Afghan people have made tremendous sacrifices and shown great courage
in the pursuit of freedom. The United States shares their vision of a
country that is democratic, at peace, and working to improve the lives of
all Afghans and that plays an important and positive role in the affairs of
the region and the world. We are confident that the U.S.-Afghan strategic
partnership will play a central role in helping Afghanistan achieve these
goals.

GEORGE W. BUSH HAMID KARZAI PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT OF THE
ISLAMIC

REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN

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