The following statement was presented at the Parliamentary Press Gallery by H.E. Omar Samad, the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Canada on Friday, October 8, 2004.

“In a few hours, over 11 million Afghan men and women will vote for the first time in their lives to freely elect their country’s president.

This is an historic moment for Afghanistan and a watershed in the country’s transition toward a more stable, democratic and effective system of governance. Terrorism and intimidation will not stop our march towards democracy, economic development and the rule of law.

The political roadmap was agreed upon in Bonn in December 2001, and will culminate next spring in the holding of parliamentary elections. Despite the pitfalls, threats and dangers, tomorrow’s presidential election, the first in the country’s history, is undoubtedly an event that is a source of pride for Afghans and our friends in the international community.

The contributions of countries that have supported Afghanistan, including Canada, are not to be underestimated. At international conferences in Tokyo in 2002 and again in Berlin this year, the world generously pledged to assist Afghanistan’s recovery and reconstruction.

Canada has been a key player and continues to be a major contributor to this end. Canadian assistance to the tune of over $600 million, covering the period 2001 to 2009, is money well spent to bring change to the lives of millions of Afghan women, children and men - victims of 25 years of war, invasion, poverty and drought.

We welcome the latest supplemental assistance announced on Thursday by Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll to assist the electoral process through the UNDP.

Afghanistan is the single largest recipient of Canadian bilateral aid. Canadians can rest assured that the deployment of their peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan in conjunction with the economic assistance that has been pledged, are appreciated by the people of Afghanistan and are critical elements in the fight against terrorism and in helping Afghans with their country’s reconstruction and development.

Our relations are strong, and as the new ambassador to Canada, I intend to further help strengthen these ties.”