Presidential Palace, Kabul - The following statement was issued yesterday on behalf of H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the launch of Afghanistan's First National Human Development Report:

"I received Afghanistan's first National Human Development Report with great pleasure. This report places Afghanistan, for the first time, in global development comparisons.

The findings of the report are grim: Our nation falls at the bottom of the Human Development Index.

The fact that more of our mothers die in childbirth than anywhere on earth, and that the illiteracy rate in Afghanistan is higher than almost anywhere in the world is understandable, but no longer acceptable.

My government intends to use this report for policy guidance and as a yardstick with which to measure its future achievements.

I would like to extend appreciation to UNDP for supporting and guiding the publication of this important report. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all those who contributed to it".