Radio Sahar: Afghan officials prepare Herat city for ECO summit

Text of report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 3 October

[Presenter] A cultural affairs adviser and a member of the delegation making preparations for the forthcoming ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] summit [to be held in Herat] has told Radio Sahar that the economy of Herat will improve after the ECO summit. He says that the ECO will establish its business representatives in the province following the summit. Hami Azad is reporting:

[Correspondent] Anwar Matin, the provincial adviser on cultural affairs and a member of the commission making preparations for the upcoming ECO summit says that, after the summit, ECO will open a bank, chambers of commerce and a park in the Herat Province. He states this will improve the economic situation in the province that will benefit the citizens. [Passage omitted: repeat]

[Correspondent] Herat provincial officials have been working hard recently to adorn the city for the forthcoming ECO summit to be held on 12 October [Afghan Foreign Ministry website says between 16 and 20 October]. The city has changed appearance in recent days and the provincial officials are involved in cleaning and reconstructing the city. Mr Matin also states that the roads and streets of the city are being cleaned, and the citizens are asked to cooperate in the process.

Anyway, this summit is expected to realize some of the people’s desires. Many observers believe that it will improve the economy of Herat which has seen decline recently.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. OSC IAP20071003950072 1230 GMT 03 Oct 07]