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: Herat takes action to save ancient minarets

Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:41pm BST
By Sayed Salahuddin

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A group of mediaeval minarets in the Afghan city of Herat could be saved thanks to the closure of a busy road threatening their foundations.

The minarets, standing at more than 100 feet, are all that remain of what was once a brilliantly decorated complex for Islamic learning and devotion on the Silk Road on the outskirts of the western Afghan city.

Just over a century ago, more than a dozen minarets stood in Herat, part of a madrasa-mosque complex built in the 15th century.

Most of the camel-colored mud-brick towers, which were once sheathed in sparkling blue, green, white and black mosaic tiles, have toppled during decades of war and neglect.

Experts had hoped the end of Taliban rule in 2001 and the advent of a new government would save the remaining towers.

However, the city’s new-found wealth in the post-Taliban era has served only to heighten concerns about the towers’ stability.

Heavy trucks and cars rumble along a road that runs through the middle of the remaining minarets, shaking the ground and threatening their foundations.

Recently authorities banned trucks from using the road, and on Thursday the head of Herat’s information and culture department said the next step was to build a new road.

“Herat was due to have been included in the list of World’s Cultural Heritage by UNESCO,” Nimatullah Sarwari told Reuters.

“They (UNESCO) had a set of preconditions; preserving the old city and the closure of the road that runs through the minarets. We have prevented big vehicles from using the road and soon we will close the road totally by building a new one.”

Once a bastion of culture and literature, Herat has prospered compared to other parts of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban, due largely to trade links with Turkmenistan and Iran.

New buildings of glass and concrete are sprouting up, overlooking the old city and challenging the minarets’ command of the skyline for the first time in six centuries.

The old city of Herat is already on the tentative list for inclusion on UNESCO’s register of World Heritage sites.