NEWS RELEASES
MANLEY WELCOMES INAUGURAL MEETING OF INTERIM ADMINISTRATION OF AFGHANISTAN
December 22, 2001 (9:00 a.m. EST) No. 169
MANLEY WELCOMES INAUGURAL MEETING OF INTERIM ADMINISTRATION OF
AFGHANISTAN
John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the inaugural meeting of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan,
which convened earlier today in Kabul. Canada was represented at the event by the Canadian High Commissioner to
Pakistan.
"This is a momentous opportunity to bring new hope to the Afghan people after many years of civil conflict, oppressive
rule and great suffering," said Minister Manley. "The next six months will be important in laying the foundations for
building representative governance structures and for rebuilding the basic elements of a democratic society. I am
particularly pleased that Afghan women have been included in the Administration from the outset."
Under the terms of the December 5 Bonn Agreement, the Interim Administration will govern for six months and is intended
to be the first step toward the establishment of a broad-based, inclusive and fully representative government. The 30-member cabinet will be made up of representatives of a number of Afghan ethnic groups.
"The success of the Interim Administration will greatly depend upon its ability to put aside factional differences and to
work together in a credible and cohesive manner," Mr. Manley added. "We are ready to work with the Interim
Administration to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and to enable a smooth transition to
democratic governance."
In addition to laying out the framework for the new Interim Administration, the Bonn Agreement also calls upon the United
Nations and the international community to assist in its implementation and in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of
Afghanistan. Canada has provided $162 million in humanitarian assistance to the country over the past 12 years, including
$16 million since September 11. In the recent federal budget, Canada allocated an additional $100 million to address the
humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the region.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jennifer Sloan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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