Herat TV: ECO relations to pave way to EU-style economic alliance, FM Spanta hopes

Herat state-own television broadcast a recorded interview with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar-Spanta in his birthplace, the district of Karokh, in Herat Province on 30 October. The minister was in the western province to visit the joint Afghan-Iranian trade exhibition.

The minister thanked the people of Herat for their hospitality and concerted efforts during the ECO conference on 17-20 October.

Asked what the impact of the ECO conference on the country’s economy might be, the minister said the main aim was to prove that Afghanistan can stand on its own two feet and regain its position in the region. “Fortunately, the international community has got this message and, during my recent visit to Britain, foreign observers also mentioned that Afghanistan was now trying to connect other countries with each other. This is the most important thing for us,” he said.

He said the second priority was regional cooperation and that they wanted to show that they considered this as highly important.

“Thirdly,” Dadfar-Spanta said, “we have been thinking about globalization and the way the world is now becoming a small village and that is why no single government, regardless of its strength and national unity, is able to play its role as an effective member of the international community [on its own]. As a result, our objective is to turn the region into a free market and to remove the customs departments of the 10 member states… My wish is that we can remove the obstacles and become like the European Union.”

The minister said many of the programmes discussed at the ECO meeting require time to be put into practice. He said preliminary discussions have been held on the construction of the railway from Iran to Herat and from Turkmenistan to Herat.

Touching on his priorities during his chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the minister said he would be trying to establish contacts among the young generations of the member states, so that they can exchange views, experiences and learn from each other.

Joint cooperation to tackle narcotics was an important subject which he touched on at the ECO meeting, the minister said. “You are aware that all the ECO members suffer from this problem and large quantities of narcotics are grown and trafficked in our country with the involvement of the mafia. So we should work on a joint mechanism to fight drugs,” he said.

Another of his aims, the minister said, was to adjust the view the world has of Afghanistan. “People outside the country believe that Afghanistan is a country of the Taleban. That is why we are trying to show the true picture of the country and that the Afghan young generation is a modern, civilized generation with Islamic beliefs and part of the international community.”

The minister urged the young generation to serve the country and to set aside ideological and religious differences.

[Description of Source: Herat Herat Television in Dari -- state-run television. OSC IAP20071031950077 30 Oct 07]

Hasht-e-Sobh: “Reflection of ECO meeting questionable – Herat officials”

Text of report entitled “Reflection of ECO meeting questionable – Herat officials” published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 27 October

Official sources in Herat Province have criticized the media for not properly covering and reporting the ECO meeting.

A protest letter issued by the cultural and social consultancy of Herat governor, entitled “ECO, independent local media and questionable reflection” says: “The media in the ECO member countries have completely and comprehensively covered this regional meeting. For example, the ECO conference and the reports from the venue of the meeting were the lead news in some media outlets including the Jam-e Jam World Service of Iran. However, the issue that has surprised everybody was the weak reflection of the ECO conference by local media. The presence of five foreign ministers including their deputies from the 10 regional countries and the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the meeting shows the paramount importance of the [ECO] conference. However, the reflection of this conference by the local private media was very weak. Tolo and Ariana TVs put the ECO reports second and third in their news bulletins. This issue gives rise to a lot of questions which we will let the opinion of Afghan society judge.”

Meanwhile, officials of the government-run local media in Herat say that they intended to cover the ECO meeting live but they were prevented by officials responsible for holding the meeting.

A number of analysts in Herat term the sketchy coverage of the ECO meeting by national and independent media as [a manifestation of] their hatred towards Herat.

They claim that because a meeting of this kind – with the participation of foreign ministers of regional countries – was not held in Afghanistan over the past 30 years, the process of the meeting should have been broadcast live by Afghanistan’s national television but this did not happen. They say that the government treated Herat in a too discriminatory way.

According to analysts, there is a question: Had the meeting of ECO foreign ministers been held in Kabul, would the private media and Afghanistan’s national television have shown such nonchalance?”

[Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari. OSC SAP20071028950019 Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari 0000 GMT 27 Oct 07]

Arman-e Melli: The ECO meeting and Dr Spanta’s continued illegitimate hold on office

Afghan paper slams government for foreign minister standoff, October 21

Independent Afghan daily Arman-e Melli criticizes government for insisting on keeping Foreign Minister Dr Spanta despites parliament’s no confidence vote. The paper also questions Germany’s support for the FM, claiming foreign countries seek their own interest rather than strengthening institutions in Afghanistan. The paper also says that MPs’ participation in parliamentary sessions is in decline as MPs have lost image and moral. The following is the text of an article headlined “The ECO meeting and Dr Spanta’s continued illegitimate hold on office” published on 21 October; subheading inserted editorially:

Political crisis in dependent countries like Afghanistan reflect not only internal challenges, but also diverse regional policies. This problem can be solved only if policy makers display proper political skills and aptitude to balance policies aimed at tackling internal problems with policies of foreign countries vis a vis Afghanistan.

Policy makers and those at the helm of affairs have, unfortunately, been unable to make sure that policies aimed at ensuring national interests are not in conflict with external considerations.

Insistence on keeping [Foreign Minister Dadfar Rangin] Spanta in the cabinet despite the fact that the majority MPs is against his continuation in office is an example of a lack of political aptitude in the government.

This problem has been compounded by reports that Afghanistan will be the ECO’s [Economic Cooperation Organization] chair over the next year. The announcement came during the ECO [foreign ministers] meeting in Herat.

The situation got even worse when the Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said that Dr Spanta would be the ECO’s president for the next one year. He did not mention that Afghanistan would be the ECO’s chair.

This comes at a time when Afghanistan’s Wolasi Jerga [lower house of parliament] has given vote of no confidence to Dr Spanta, thereby rendering his role as foreign minister illegitimate. Countries in the region are also aware of this standoff between the government and the parliament.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must speak on behalf of Afghanistan, not on behalf of Dr Spanta who may not remain in office next year. The lower house has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of his role in office.

Parliament undermined

The standoff between the parliament and the government over the removal of Dr Spanta or his continuation in office explains the snobbery of a small group in power, insisting on continuation of a minister who has been striped of his authority. This status quo also casts serious doubts on the will and capacities of elected public representatives in the parliament.

Although, the confrontation between the parliament and the government over a minister (who has hardly had any achievements) [bracket as published] seems to be phoney, it has harmed the prestige of the parliament as an institution monitoring the government’s activities as well as the credibility of the government, thereby destabilizing the state as a whole. Standoffs between a government and a parliament are common issue in any country, but it has never led to demeaning of a government in public opinion, and a gradual dissolution of a parliament (without the government directly dissolving it).

Why Mr Karzai uses Dr Spanta as a shield?

Mr [Hamed] Karzai knew that if the Wolasi Jerga succeeded in removing the minister of foreign affairs, sooner or later it would have been another minister’s turn. This would have made a crack in the government ranks and would have curtailed the government’s power to appoint or remove ministers, even if not leading to complete capitulation of the president’s team. Consequently, the government team in the presidential palace would have left the scene for new political movements. Hence, it was deemed necessary to violate the law to ensure the hold of one team on power.

The government is aware of its own actions. The people also know that, contrary to its slogans of meritocracy, the government brought people into power on compromise as it deemed necessary. People know the figures that have been brought into the government in this manner. There is no need to mention their names, because it is enough to say that if political games are played at the cost of people’s expectations, it will sooner or later spark a social tragedy. It must be borne in mind that political games are also bound by certain principles which if violated will backfire.

Untouchable ministers

It appears from MPs’ comments that after Dr Spanta the house intended to take on other ministers, such as Zarar Ahmad Moqbel [minister of internal affairs], who have no effectiveness.

However, the government’s stiff resistance made this task unattainable. The government, thus, totally denied the parliament its role as a monitor and reformer. The government which has never showed such determination on even a single national issue seems to be determined to stand on Dr Spanta at any cost. Why the government did not take the same stance on former Minister of Refugee Affairs Akbar Akbar?

Germany wrong to support FM Spanta

What does it mean when Germany insist on Dr Spanta remaining in office [Dr Spanta is a German citizen]? If Dr Spanta works for Germany or other foreign circles, why on the earth should this issue cause a political crisis in the country at a time when it needs stability and national trust more than any other time in the past.

To what extent have those at the helm of affairs gone in their commitment to be dictated by others? Is the opinion of a European country with some troops in Afghanistan to secure its own interests more important than the opinions of people and the Wolasi Jerga? Is the German government ready to take the responsibility of an emerging crisis and a lack of trust between the two trembling bodies of the state of Afghanistan? Is it, then, appropriate to call it the government of people of Afghanistan?

At least learn some lessons from Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister, who does not compromise at the dignity and pride of his nation despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops in that country. He even dares to oppose President Bush on sensitive issues. Recently, the Iraqi government suspended operations of two known American security companies. The major problem of this [Afghan] government] is that it violates its own laws, let alone countries like Germany who (as stated by themselves) “play tricks” in Afghanistan.

If every European state begins dictating the weak government of Afghanistan, what can one expect from such a government?

Wolasi Jerga’s silence: The Wolasi Jerga first voted for Dr Spanta with optimism by overlooking his credentials, an action that raises questions in the people’s minds. Interestingly, replying to some members of parliament who said they had voted for him to make him minister of foreign affairs, he said: Why did you vote fore me? You should not have voted for me.

Every MP knew that Dr Spanta lacked social influence and national trust within the Afghan society, and that he did not have experience in the field of diplomacy, but their mysterious approach brought into office a person who became a bone of contention between the parliament and the government. He is now taking advantage of this situation to ensure his stay in office.

If the hand of a foreign country and the prospect of links and connections are not involved in this issue, how can a person who naively admitted in an interview with the Iranian, Radio Voice of Iran, that “I have no knowledge of diplomatic games and tricks” continue grabbing the ministry with his both hands?

Parliament has become irrelevant

Should meeting with a few foreigners and addressing small gatherings of Afghans abroad while being totally oblivious of the pains and suffering of Afghan society make a person eligible to be a lifetime minister?

Why the Wolasi Jerga agrees when one ministry is removed from his post while another continues to stay in office illegally? Silence after a series of warnings by Mohammad Yunos Qanuni, Speaker of the Wolasi Jerga, to shut down parliament is also a mystery. Past experiences show that there are personal dealings behind such mysteries. If Wolasi Jerga is not able to defend its decisions, and the government has intentionally limited its role, why is it engaging itself in unimportant petty daily issues? The house should know that there is hardly a difference between dissolving of a parliament or sidelining it and curtailing its role by the government.

Experts of political affairs in Afghanistan say that it was apparent from the very beginning that if the Wolasi Jerga failed to stand on its own feet, the government would try to ensure its clout over it, thus making it a tool in the government’s hands. Apparently, the house has not come under total influence of the government, but the government’s indifference towards its decisions and its legal status has brought the house activities to a standstill. This situation and the pessimism of many members of the Wolasi Jerga have almost brought the jerga to a close. The only different between this state and dissolution of the house is that in case of dissolution, members of parliament do not come in for criticize, and have no legal responsibility as they can say that they did what they could, but it was the government which violated the law and dissolved the parliament. But in the present situation, members of the Wolasi Jerga are serving. Therefore, the public opinion judges them and takes them to task. Question to be asked is that why Wolasi Jerga has chosen to remain silence against the government, particularly in Dr Spanta’ case?

According to reports, the government’s indifference towards the Wolasi Jerga decisions, particularly in Dr Spanta’s case, has left many members of parliament uncertain about the continuation of the parliament’s work. Their participation in parliament sessions has decreased significantly.

On other hand, there has been no collective motion within the parliament to correct the situation. Question to be asked is that if head of the state is only the president of Dr Spanta and some foreign countries, or is he an elected president of all people of Afghanistan? If the former is true, this must be publicly announced, but if he is the president of all people [of Afghanistan], he must respect the law, the same which granted people the right to elect him.

Law obliges the president to respect Wolasi Jerga decisions. It is wished that the government had also shown the same persistence and resoluteness in dealing with other important issues, such as prosecuting individuals involved in bribery, economic bands, and mafia groups, which have induced corruption in the government, causing people to turn to the Taleban.

How good if foreign countries had pressured the government on these issues so to prevent looming social crisis in Afghanistan. The government’s use of power tools, and the foreign circles’ use of the weak Afghan government to achieve their own objectives will only compound the trend of increasing lack of confidence among people [vis a vis the government] and will result in increased social threats.

[Description of Source: Kabul Arman-e Melli (National Aspiration) in Dari -- Four-page independent daily with broad coverage of domestic political issues, including interviews with political figures. Also carries international, science health issues, and readers' letters, some of which are critical of the government. OSC IAP20071025950037 Kabul Arman-e Melli (National Aspiration) in Dari 0000 GMT 21 Oct 07)

Barnett Rubin’s assessment of regional politics

Barnett Rubin assesses regional relations in the aftermath of the ECO conference in Herat.

Fars News Agency: Iran Hopeful About Boosting Economic Exchanges With Afghanistan

October 19, 2007

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki expressed hope that trade and economic exchanges between Iran and Afghanistan would increase in future.

Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with Afghanistan’s Energy, Water and Power Minister Ismail Khan in Herat on Friday, where the two sides reviewed latest developments in the two countries’ ties as well as projects underway in the city of Herat.

Also in the meeting, Mottaki noted the two nation’s interests, and viewed Tehran-Kabul ties as developing.

He hoped that longer strides would be taken for the boosting of the two sides’ trade exchanges, implementation of joint ventures, facilitation of the visits of traders and industry owners and materialization of economic prosperity in light of the existing potentials.

The minister also stressed Iran’s deep eagerness to implement joint ventures and assist Afghanistan with technical and engineering services.

For his part, the Afghan minister underlined Iran’s positive role in his country, particularly in promoting trade activities and reconstruction of Herat, and expressed the hope that the two countries’ exchanges would increase.

Mottaki is in Afghanistan to attend the 17th ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The foreign ministers of ECO’s member states are scheduled to convene in Herat to attend a meeting on October 20.

Meantime, Iranian, Afghan and Tajik foreign ministers are scheduled to attend a trilateral meeting to study regional issues and discuss economic cooperation.

The Economic Cooperation Organization which was established in 1985 in pursuit of the promotion of economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the member states has now turned into a powerful body.

The organization was founded by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan but Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan jointed the block afterwards.

[Description of Source: Tehran Fars News Agency (Internet Version-WWW) in English -- Privately-owned news agency. It began operating in mid November 2002. Its managing editor is Mehdi Faza'eli, the editor in chief of the Javan daily and a member of the managerial board of the Association of Muslim Journalists. The other members of the board of directors of the news agency, are Alizera Shemirani, of Farda newspaper, Abdollah Moqaddam and Akbar Nabavi of Resalat newspaper, the former director of Farabi Foundation Hasan Eslami-Mehr, and university professor Abolhoseyn Ruholamin. OSC IAP20071019950066 1425 GMT 19 Oct 07.]

AFP: No evidence Iran arming Taliban: Afghan foreign minister

October 19, 2007

HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) — Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta said Friday there was no evidence that Iran was supplying weapons to Taliban militants waging a violent insurgency.

Spanta’s comments came after the top US commander in Afghanistan, General Dan McNeill, said Thursday a convoy of explosives intercepted last month had arrived from Iran and probably with the knowledge of the Iranian military.

“Our government has no evidence to show Iran is giving weapons to the Taliban and we have never stated this,” Spanta told reporters after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki in the western city of Herat.

US and British officials have alleged for months that weapons from Iran are going to the Taliban rebels fighting Kabul and its international allies, the main one being Washington with which Tehran has a strained relationship.

Iran has denied the allegations and Afghanistan has also said it has no proof.

Asked about McNeill’s statement, Mottaki said: “These are claims that they make. For us the motives behind these claims are clear.”

He did not elaborate but suggested there were contacts, which he did not make clear, between “terrorist groups in Afghanistan” and “political circles and European capitals.”

Iran was fully behind the reconstruction of post-Taliban Afghanistan, both ministers said.

McNeill, the head of the 40,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, was referring Thursday to a convoy from Iran which was stopped on September 5 in western Afghanistan.

It contained “a number of advanced technology improvised explosive devices,” he said.

“It is difficult for me to conceive that this convoy could have originated in Iran and come to Afghanistan without at least the knowledge of the Iran military,” he said.

The Afghan and Iranian ministers met with their Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri in Herat ahead of a conference Saturday of foreign ministers from 10 regional countries in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).

ECO incorporates Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Hasht-e-Sobh: Paper urges Afghan government to take advantage of ECO session

Text of editorial in Dari entitled: “ECO, a chance to show the capacity” by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 17 October

The ancient city of Herat will be the host of the foreign ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization [ECO] member countries tomorrow [17 Oct]. This in itself is a refreshing news and gives hope for new events because it is the first time that such an important event takes place not in the capital but in one of the provinces of the country, not a provincial place but rather a city when compared to [other parts] of Afghanistan. The people of Herat, who have been preparing themselves for this event of hospitality since sometime now, should be surely happy for this event. Herat, in the proximity of Iran and Turkmenistan, by holding of the ECO meeting shows that there is relative peace voluntarily ensured by the people. If this is the beginning of similar conferences in other provinces, people in other provinces can be hopeful that everything will not remain limited to Kabul.

The successful holding of this [ECO] meeting can reassure the people of Afghanistan who are used to reports of security incidents, war and suicide attacks…[ellipsis as published]. This meeting in Herat will also give hope to the ECO member states and all the participants. Of course, Afghanistan has less chance to take advantage of this opportunity due to different reasons including economic problems, insecurity and other issues because the ECO meeting, though with the title of economic cooperation, is not only an economic organization due to its dependency and relations with different world powers. One should not expect political reservations not to exist in ECO. Especially since developments in Afghanistan, whether positive or negative, have their own specific impact on the region and the world.

What is important is that Afghan officials should convince the rest of the [ECO] member countries that the current process in Afghanistan is a positive one. Afghan officials should also make them accept that increase in security incidents and an intensification of the crisis will not remain limited to Afghanistan alone. It is a big achievement that Afghanistan hosts the meeting, and based on common traditions, it is taking the rotating presidency of the organization and it can therefore include important issues in the current meeting. The encouraging role of the Herati people in paving the way for holding this meeting can be an incentive to the rest of people on the condition that it should not take a regional shape and colour. Herat city and its people should appear as a model for Afghanistan and its people.

The concern over the possible disruption of [security] by the enemies of the people of Afghanistan is not inappropriate. However, we hope that security forces, taking into consideration the particular importance of this meeting, keep in mind all aspects of this gathering and do not give the enemies the chance to undermine this favourable opportunity.

We hope the government takes the necessary advantage of attending the meeting and its result and pays attention to the important position and role of the Afghan people in the reconstruction process and progress [of the country].

The holding of this meeting in the ancient city of Herat at least gives the obvious message that one cannot be a good host for such meetings without security, progress and reconstruction. Each of the participant countries is trying to adopt a stance in line with its own interests. It is the current and future strength of each country that determines its position and role at this meeting. Power and money, not goodwill or mischief, play key and vital roles in this equation like any other equations in international relations.

[Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari. OSC SAP20071018950020 0000 GMT 17 Oct 07 ]

Reuters: Regional trade conference underway in Afghanistan

Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:26am BST
By Sayed Salahuddin

HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct 17 (Reuters) – A regional conference on trade among nations in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) began on Wednesday in Afghanistan, the first such major gathering to be held for decades in the war-torn country.

Iran, Turkey and Pakistan are the founding members of the organisation, which was set up in 1985 and now includes seven other regional nations, Afghanistan among them.

In addition to investment, transit facilitation and trade, officials from the group are also expected to discuss exploration and export of gas and oil, said an Afghan official.

ECO member Turkmenistan for years has been keen to export its gas to Pakistan and beyond through Afghanistan, but the multi-billion dollar project has been held up due to insecurity in the country.

Afghanistan has been facing a resurgent Taliban-led insurgency.

Lying on the old Silk Road, Afghanistan serves as a bridge between some ECO member countries and has rich copper and iron reserves and some precious stones.

It is also a consumer market for products of some of the regional countries and its annual trade with them reaches to some $4 billion since the Taliban’s ouster in 2001, according to Afghan government estimates.

Since the Taliban’s overthrow, the country has not seen any major foreign and local investment, largely due to lack of infrastructure, rampant corruption and the increased insurgency in the past two years.

As part of a move to encourage local traders, the Afghan government recently abolished taxes on exports of goods from the country.

The four-day trade conference is being held in the western city of Herat, regarded as one of the safest areas of the country, which has largely prospered since the removal of the Taliban government.

Security was tight across the city on Wednesday. President Hamid Karzai, who has escaped a series of assassination attempts by suspected Taliban members, is expected to address the conference, Afghan officials said.

In addition to Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, the ECO also includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Herat TV: Afghan foreign minister says relations with Iran expanding

At 1710 gmt on 16 October, Herat’s state-owned television channel broadcast a recorded speech delivered by Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangin Dadfar-Spanta at a meeting of provincial administration officials, MPs, religious scholars, intellectuals and local reporters. The meeting was held in Herat Province on Monday evening, 15 October.

To start with, the minister greeted the participants and expresses happiness over the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting which is scheduled to be held in Herat city between 17 to 20 October.

He then moved to talking about the meeting’s importance, stressing that officials have focused on Herat to show the world that there are many important issues worth paying attention to including the geographical position of Herat Province and its historical monuments as well as its people’s vigour and resilience in dealing with hardship and rebuilding their city and standing on their own feet.

He said: “During any international meeting or conference, one of the programmes is to see the historical monuments. So if we take a tour of the city, we can show our guests many parts which were destroyed but the people rebuilt them… We should all be proud of our history and civilization “

Touching on the members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Dr Dadfar-Spanta stressed that the Afghan government has good, friendly relations with all ECO members, specifically Iran and Pakistan and Turkey.

He said: “We have extraordinary relations with the Republic of Turkey, which is above the normal relations between the two governments, for there are personally good relations between the two presidents and between me and the Turkish president and many Turkish top officials We would like to expand these relations and Turkey has already invested in Afghanistan ”

Among other things, the minister concentrated on the allegedly controversial ties with Iran. He said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran shares a common religion, language and civilization with us. It has been fully active in the reconstruction of Afghanistan We are expanding our relations contrary to the rumours. There can be some misunderstandings, but this should not affect our friendship and we should remove them for the sake of our young and future generations…”

Talking about the current relations with Pakistan, the minister said: “Fortunately, there have been some slight changes in favour of us in our relations with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan We emphasize that terrorism must not be used as a tool in a country’s foreign strategy since it may eventually affect that country. We have always advised our Pakistani friends about this and our hope is that the Pakistani officials will understand the good will of our government and people “

The foreign minister then thanked the government for providing 500,000 US dollars for the ECO meeting, the German and Italian governments for their cooperation and donation and the central and provincial government officials for their concerted, strenuous efforts for the meeting.

He closed his speech by thanking the officials and the Herati people yet again and expressing hope the meeting will be held effectively.

[Description of Source: Herat Herat Television in Dari -- state-run television. OSC IAP20071016950131 1710 GMT 16 Oct 07]

Radio Sahar: Afghan officials highlight importance of ECO meeting in Herat

October 16, 2007

[Presenter] On the sidelines of the forthcoming ECO session, a meeting was held in Herat city yesterday evening. At this meeting, a number of officials delivered speeches to underline the importance of the session. It is said that the members of the Economic Cooperation Organization or ECO are arriving in the province.

[Correspondent] Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangin Dadfar-Spanta was one of the officials that delivered a speech at this meeting. He described Afghanistan’s membership of ECO as important and strategic. According to the minister, the ECO session in Herat city is a point connecting the city to its glorious ancient history.

[Dr Dadfar-Spanta] Our membership of ECO has a strategic importance for us. As one of the major centres of the eastern, Islamic civilization, Herat has been on the route connecting China and India to Old Persia and Central Asia. We have been trying to show that Herat, as a historical symbol, is still able to connect these regions.

[Correspondent] Meanwhile, tough security measures have been taken since yesterday. Herat Governor Sayed Hosayn Anwari states that strict security measures will be taken during these days as there are concerns over security disruption by the opponents.

[Sayed Hosayn Anwari] It goes without saying that the opponents are attempting to spread terror and fear in order to show the government and the provincial administration are incompetent. They will benefit from any opportunity to meet their own ends. However, we hope the new measures we have taken will foil plots hatched by any opponent groups.

[Correspondent] The officials hope the ECO session will be held appropriately in spite of all these concerns. The economic observers in Herat Province believe that the session will enhance economic activities in this province.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. OSC IAP20071016950103 Herat Radio Sahar in Dari 1230 GMT 16 Oct 07]