Appearing for the first time before the U.S. congress where he received warm welcome, President Ashraf Ghani hailed the sacrifices of the United States for Afghanistan's security, progress and women's rights.
In his address to a joint meeting of U.S. congress in Washington, Ghani highly appreciated the gains by Afghan women, linking the achievements to the U.S. sacrifices over the past 13 years.
"On September 10, there was no girl attending school because it was illegal," Ghani noted. "But today, more than three million Afghan girls are attending primary schools."
Stressing that educating Afghan women was a vital need of the country, Ghani once again expressed that educating an Afghan girl could change the next five generations.
"Today in Kabul, the designs have been completed to provide a high quality education for women in our universities," Ghani said, emphasizing that the women must have equal access to economic opportunities as men.
Referring to the violence against women, Ghani noted that Afghanistan had signed global conventions as part of its commitments to ending violence against women.
Touching on the issue of peace talks with the Taliban, Ghani stated, "We will negotiate with the Taliban from a position of strength, not weakness."
He warned that Afghanistan would be the "graveyard of al-Qaeda and their affiliates."
"We will use the peace talks as an opportunity, and we will not let our achievements to be destroyed."
Calling on the Islamic countries to speak out against extremism, Ghani declared that silence against extremism was not acceptable.
"Afghanistan is joining a new consensus in the Islamic world to reject intolerance, extremism and war."
Furthermore, he appreciated the continued U.S. support and sacrifices for Afghanistan and said the Afghans were seeking for long-term partnership with the United States.
"More than one million Americans served in Afghanistan and paid a huge sacrifice," Ghani said, thanking to all the American military generals who led the US-led coalition mission in Afghanistan.
Touching on the tragedy of corruption, Ghani emphasized that Afghanistan would become a self-reliant country by ending corruption.
"I am pleased that we are reversing the decades of mismanagement," Ghani said. "We respect your [American] taxpayers, and will remove corruption."
In his address to a joint meeting of U.S. congress in Washington, Ghani highly appreciated the gains by Afghan women, linking the achievements to the U.S. sacrifices over the past 13 years.
"On September 10, there was no girl attending school because it was illegal," Ghani noted. "But today, more than three million Afghan girls are attending primary schools."
Stressing that educating Afghan women was a vital need of the country, Ghani once again expressed that educating an Afghan girl could change the next five generations.
"Today in Kabul, the designs have been completed to provide a high quality education for women in our universities," Ghani said, emphasizing that the women must have equal access to economic opportunities as men.
Referring to the violence against women, Ghani noted that Afghanistan had signed global conventions as part of its commitments to ending violence against women.
Touching on the issue of peace talks with the Taliban, Ghani stated, "We will negotiate with the Taliban from a position of strength, not weakness."
"We will use the peace talks as an opportunity, and we will not let our achievements to be destroyed."
Calling on the Islamic countries to speak out against extremism, Ghani declared that silence against extremism was not acceptable.
"Afghanistan is joining a new consensus in the Islamic world to reject intolerance, extremism and war."
Furthermore, he appreciated the continued U.S. support and sacrifices for Afghanistan and said the Afghans were seeking for long-term partnership with the United States.
"More than one million Americans served in Afghanistan and paid a huge sacrifice," Ghani said, thanking to all the American military generals who led the US-led coalition mission in Afghanistan.
Touching on the tragedy of corruption, Ghani emphasized that Afghanistan would become a self-reliant country by ending corruption.
"I am pleased that we are reversing the decades of mismanagement," Ghani said. "We respect your [American] taxpayers, and will remove corruption."
Ghani's speech to the congress was part of its five-day important trip to the United States where he is accompanied by CEO Abdullah Abdullah, cabinet ministers and high-profile government officials.
The US-Afghan relations, which were strained during former President Hamid Karzai's presidency, are now said to have been improved following the first visit of Afghan leaders since the formation of National Unity Government (NUG).
Earlier in a meeting with U.S. State Secretary John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at Camp David, the Afghan leaders were promised funding of all 352,000 Afghan forces, and another aid of $800 million to unity government's reform agenda.
The US-Afghan relations, which were strained during former President Hamid Karzai's presidency, are now said to have been improved following the first visit of Afghan leaders since the formation of National Unity Government (NUG).
Earlier in a meeting with U.S. State Secretary John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at Camp David, the Afghan leaders were promised funding of all 352,000 Afghan forces, and another aid of $800 million to unity government's reform agenda.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/18759-ghani-hails-us-sacrifices-in-his-address-to-congress
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