1. Remarks by Prime Minister Harper on February 26, 2007 - Ottawa, Ontario
2. Text of remarks by Amb.Omar Samad on Parliament Hill, on the occasion of new Canadian aid announcement to Afghanistan by H.E. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, February 26, 2007.

It is indeed a great pleasure to be here today at the opening of the new Health Partners International of Canada Distribution Center.

I know how hard my friends at HPIC have worked to make this happen, and what an honor it is to have The Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper attend the opening and dedicate the shipment of urgently needed medical aid to my country and the Afghan people.

Ottawa – Afghan Ambassador Omar Samad attended the 14 th Canadian International Law Students’ Conference in Toronto Saturday and spoke about developments in Afghanistan and Canada’s role there.

The conference’s panel discussion, sponsored by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, also included Prof. Rex Brynen of McGill University and Dr. G. Thomas Johnson, Associate Professor at York University. It was moderated by the Faculty of Law’s Melissa Jones Prus.

Ottawa – An elected member of Afghanistan’s Lower House visited Ottawa last week to attend the Afghanistan Roundtable organized by the United Nations Association in Canada.

Mrs. Safia Siddiqi, who left Canada to work in Afghanistan in 2002 and subsequently ran and won a parliamentary seat from her native province of Ningarhar, also paid a courtesy call on The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Thursday on Parliament Hill.

Ottawa – At the opening of the “Afghanistan – A Glimpse of War” exhibition at the Canadian War Museum Thursday evening, Amb. Omar Samad praised Canada for its strong commitment to help war-ravaged Afghanistan and paid tribute to all Canadians, military or civilian, who are serving, have served or have fallen in Afghanistan.

At the opening reception attended by more than 700 people, he thanked Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and the organizers of the event for their support for the exhibition as well as Canada’s continued contributions to Afghanistan.

He addressed the families of Canadian Forces present at the event and praised the valor of the dedication of their loved ones for a noble cause and extended the Afghan people’s gratitude for their assistance.

OTTAWA–Canada and the international community must be "more aggressive" in boosting development efforts in Afghanistan, says that country's top diplomat in Ottawa.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the Afghanistan Compact, an ambitious strategy meant to improve the country's security and economy, Ambassador Omar Samad said nations must now "accelerate" the implementation of that plan.

"We have to be more aggressive in terms of development aid ... and in making sure that the Afghan people feel that this compact ... is making a real difference in their lives," Samad said.