1. Press statement issued following the meeting between Mr. S. Dion and a delegation of the Liberal Party of Canada with H.E. President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, January 12, 2008 (www.president.gov.af)

President Hamid Karzai Meets Stephane Dion, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

Date of Release: 12 January 2008

Arg, Kabul – His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, thanked the people, parliament and government of Canada for their steadfast support of the Afghan people, and for playing a leadership role in providing a wide range of assistances, especially in the security and development sectors, to Afghanistan.

He told the leadership of the Liberal Party that Afghans will never forget the brave Canadians who have given their lives or sustained injuries for the noble cause of helping build a more secure and prosperous life for millions of Afghans.

President Hamid Karzai also emphasized the need to maintain the momentum that has been created in the South, in particular in Kandahar, to solidify the gains and provide consistency and continuity for the population as well as the government.

The president said Afghanistan will respect whatever decision Canada will take with regard to its future role in Afghanistan. However he maintained that the events of September 11 serves us well in reminding ourselves that not fighting terrorism head-on can have disastrous consequences for  Afghanistan, the region and the world at large.

Office of the Spokesman to the President

2. Excerpt from a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on Jan. 12 following a meeting between the Liberal Party of Canada delegation and Dr. R. Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs:

… Dr. R. Dadfar Spanta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Canadian delegation and expressed his appreciation for Canada’s substantial contributions and sacrifices in Afghanistan, especially in Kandahar. He also highlighted the need for Canada’s presence in Afghanistan to defend peace, fight terrorism and help with stability in the country and the region.

Dr. Spanta also pointed to the gains made by Afghanistan and the international community over the past six years in various fields and said that we need to protect and defend these gains…

3. Excerpts from a statement issued by the Afghan Lower House of Parliament following a meeting between Canada’s Liberal Party delegation and Mr. Yunous Qanooni, Speaker of the House on Jan. 12. 2008:

… In his meeting with the Canadian Liberal Party delegation, Mr. Yunous Qanooni, Speaker of the Afghan Lower House of the National Assembly expressed his gratitude for the active role of the Canadian Forces to help restore security to Afghanistan, and for Canada’s overall assistances to the Afghan people and government. He said “the triangle of terrorism, extremism and narcotics still continues to threaten my country and we will need to continue the mission by International Forces, especially the mission carried out by the Canadian troops.”