John Kerry és Ashton Carter amerikai, valamint Ashraf Ghani és Abdullah Abdullah afgán vezetők közös sajtótájékoztatót tartottak Camp Davidben. New York-i tudósítónk jelenti
SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon, everybody. I’m really very pleased to be here, together with Secretary Carter, to welcome the president of Afghanistan, President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah. We’re very, very pleased to be here with them today.
As most of you know, and I had a chance to share with our guests, Camp David was named after the grandson of Dwight Eisenhower, who in 1959 became the first American president to visit Afghanistan. And en route from the airport in Kabul, Eisenhower was greeted by tens of thousands of cheering citizens. While in country, he paid tribute to our bilateral friendship, relationship, and shared values and the courage and the fierce independence of the Afghan people – a pride of independence that we have come to know well.
He also marveled at his ability, I might add, to travel so far in such a short time, remarking on how closely drawn together the world was in the middle of the 20th century. Well, today’s productive meetings underscore both the enduring nature of the U.S.-Afghan friendship and the extent to which we have grown even closer after 14 years of shared sacrifice.
It’s worth underscoring that today marks an unprecedented and comprehensive high-level visit. From the dinner that I was privileged to host last night at my home together with my wife Teresa, to the Pentagon tribute for our troops this morning, to a full day here at Camp David, to meetings at the White House that will take place tomorrow, other meetings that the president will be having with various journalists and entities around Washington, and then finally meetings with the Congress on Wednesday and then to the United Nations, we have packed, literally, several visits worth into one. And we believe that speaks volumes about our commitment to Afghanistan and to its citizens, who believe in their future with an inclusive government that serves them all.
Our delegations held three separate sessions, beginning with security, then moving on to the issues of reconciliation and regional cooperation, and concluding with economic matters. American participants, in addition to Secretary Carter, included Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, the directors of national intelligence, the CIA, and a range of other top officials in areas of diplomacy, development, and defense. Tomorrow, President Obama will welcome President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah to the White House.
The depth of our discussions today reflect the critical nature of this moment, with Afghanistan’s government of national unity now fully responsible for the security of its people and moving ahead on a reform agenda of its own design. At the center of our bilateral relationship is a shared commitment to security and peace and a desire to promote prosperity and social progress throughout Afghanistan. These goals are outlined in the 2012 enduring strategic partnership agreement between our governments, the implementation of which is being tracked by the bilateral commission.
Later this year I will be traveling to Kabul to join Foreign Minister Rabbani in hosting a meeting of the commission, which will be the first such meeting since 2013. I’m also pleased to announce today a new initiative, a plan to create a new development partnership aligned with the unity government’s reform agenda. This initiative reflects the strategic importance of the U.S.-Afghan relationship and it recognizes a new era of cooperation between our governments. The partnership will promote Afghan self-reliance by using up to 800 million in U.S. aid to incentivize and measure Afghan-led reform and development activities and strengthen Afghan institutions, sustainability, and fiscal transparency, and give the new unity government more opportunity to lead its own development trajectory. And in today’s discussion we committed to an energy working group that will focus on the synergies of the regional energy market.
Before closing, I just want to add that I had the privilege last year during the post-election period of spending quite a few hours with these Afghan leaders. A lot of people felt that because of the hard-fought election and the nature of the presidential contest that they would never come together and that Afghanistan would literally split wide open as a result. Close-up, that is not what I saw. I saw two men who understood very clearly what the stakes were for their country, both of whom were determined to validate what was, in fact, a remarkable democratic process, both of whom who were determined to do what was right.
It is easy today to underestimate the measure of courage and leadership and selflessness that was demanded at that moment and that both of these leaders continue to show in their commitment to a unity government.
Huge challenges remain. We all know that. But there is good news in Afghanistan. Life expectancy has risen by 20 years. Health care access has increased dramatically. The number of children in school has risen from some 900,000, who were just boys, to 8 million now, with 40 percent of them girls. The overall economy has been growing, and the combined security forces are now larger and more capable. That is, in fact, no surprise to those courageous American servicemen and women and to the contractors and others who’ve been committed to this endeavor.
On his flight out of Afghanistan 56 years ago, President Eisenhower turned to a friend and said the Afghans were the most determined lot of people he had ever encountered. Today, I have confidence that in the president and chief executive we have people who are determined, and I believe that the vast majority of Afghans are committed to the kind of policies that will create, ultimately foster prosperity, and build peace. We were very touched today at the Pentagon to hear President Ghani affirm the bonds of friendship between our countries that have been forged in sacrifice.
And now I am pleased to turn the floor over to my colleague, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.
SECRETARY CARTER: Thank you, Secretary Kerry, and let me add my thanks to yours. To President Ghani, Dr. Abdullah, our colleagues Secretary of Treasury Lew, Director Clapper, Director Brennan for a remarkable day of conversations here at Camp David. And I again want to express my appreciation to President Ghani for addressing the men and women of the Defense Department this morning at the Pentagon and for thanking the more than 850,000 American troops and civilians and thousands more contractors who have deployed to Afghanistan over the years. President Ghani’s remarks at the Pentagon have underscored the extent to which the United States now has a revitalized partnership with Afghanistan’s new unity government.
As many of you know, I saw President Ghani and Doctor Abdullah in Kabul last month, where I was also able to thank the nearly 10,000 American troops still serving there and to assess the changed circumstances on the ground there. Today, we continued this discussion on the progress and the challenges facing Afghan forces as they prepare for the coming fighting season and beyond; developments in NATO’s train, advise, and assist mission; counterterrorism, and Afghanistan’s long-term security objectives.
Being here with Secretary Kerry and Secretary Lew also puts Afghanistan’s security challenges in the broader context of its political and economic development, because as President Ghani himself has said, our relationship is not defined by the numbers of troops but by the comprehensive nature of our partnership. We know security can’t be isolated from the aspirations that ordinary Afghans seek to fulfill every day in seeking to find jobs, feed their families, or educate their children. President Obama has been very clear that while U.S. and coalition troops have transitioned to a new mission in Afghanistan, the United States maintains an unwavering commitment to a strong and enduring strategic partnership with Afghanistan. We will be discussing that further tomorrow in the White House with the President.
And as one part of that commitment, today we can announce that the Defense Department intends to seek funding for Afghan forces to sustain an end strength of 352,000 personnel through 2017. Afghan and coalition military commanders have jointly recommended this force size at least through 2017 to ensure that the security gains we’ve made together are lasting. Now, a force of this size will come at significant cost for Afghanistan and for its international partners, so we will work closely with them to ensure that we are charting a path towards a sustainable and affordable force for the long term.
As we do so, we appreciate President Ghani and Doctor Abdullah’s commitment to ensuring that Afghanistan’s government and its armed forces remain focused on accountability, transparency, and reform. And DOD remains committed to working with members of Congress to ensure that our investments in Afghanistan continue to support our national security interests while contributing to regional stability and a brighter Afghan future.
Today, we also agreed after an interruption of three years to reinstate the U.S.-Afghanistan Security Consultative Forum, which the Defense Department will lead along with the Afghan Ministries of Defense and Interior, and which will serve as a partner to the body that Secretary Kerry will lead on behalf of our government as a whole with his counterparts. This mechanism will open the door to new opportunities to strengthen our enduring partnership.
So let me thank President Ghani and Doctor Abdullah once again for being here with us at Camp David, once again for visiting our troops and our families this morning. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT GHANI: In the name of God the compassionate, the merciful, first of all, let me thank you, Secretary Kerry, Secretary Carter, Secretary Lew, Director Clapper, and Director Brennan for a remarkable day, and thank President Obama for making Camp David available to us.
I was 10 years old when President Eisenhower visited Afghanistan. All the school children were lined up to greet the President of the United States. What impressed us most was he chose to ride in an open car. All other heads of state that visited Afghanistan would not show their faces to the public or stand in an open car. That openness is what has characterized the American attitude to life, to politics, and to engagement.
Today, we’ve been very privileged – Dr. Abdullah and I and our colleagues – to engage in a discussion that characterizes a discussion among enduring partners. First of all, again, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women in uniform who have done the ultimate sacrifice: 2,215 Americans have lost – members of the armed forces have lost their lives; numerous members of the Secret Service and civilians. They will be part of our enduring memories, and we pay tribute to them. Equally, over 20,000 American military members have been wounded in action. We pray for their recovery and we hope that their families will recover from the trauma.
American troops – around 850,000 plus contractors – have gotten to know us in ways that very few people have known our country. They know locations that most Afghans probably don’t. They served in the highest peaks, in the most difficult deserts, and the barest of places with the minimum – with minimum support structures. But what they brought was a difference in attitude. We Afghans are fiercely proud, but we always know the difference between those who come in anger and those who come to support us.
It’s not Dr. Abdullah and I alone who want to say thank you. The parliament of Afghanistan by overwhelmingly supporting the Bilateral Security Agreement, previously the consultative Loya Jirga endorsing this, speaks for a consensus. This is a foundational relationship, and we are very proud that this relationship will be transformed into an enduring relationship.
The government of national unity is an enduring phenomenon, and one of its key characteristics is its honesty in dealing with the balance sheet that we have inherited. We have had accomplishments. but we also have inherited corruption, impunity regarding rule of law, gender disparities, disparities between rich and poor, and the enduring poverty – 36 percent of our population still lives under the poverty line. Our determination is to make sure that our people live not just in peace, but with dignity and prosperity.
So I welcome the new developmental framework because this is a framework that will incentivize the Afghan public and the Afghan Government to put our house in order. To be able to spend money on budget and in terms of priorities, we must commit to reforms that our people want and desire. And this is a new mechanism, and I hope that this becomes the new way of doing business.
I very much welcome the energy initiative because that is the difference between Afghanistan of today and the Afghanistan of the future. This energy initiative will turn us into a hub where energy from Central Asia and also increasingly generated into – from Afghanistan will flow into South Asia. It would make the dream of Asian integration a reality, and I look very much forward to working with you.
Simultaneously, I’d like to express appreciation to Secretary Carter for announcing support for the 2017 – for requesting 2017 budget support at the current numbers. This is a major statement of support. Our armed forces and our security forces are going to greet this with enormous welcome because it gives them the assurance that the Resolute Support Mission is continuing and that we are able to focus on our key priorities.
Just briefly, the security environment, we must recognize, is difficult. But our armed forces – an all-volunteer force – are ready to do their patriotic duty. The transition from international forces to Afghan forces has been smooth. We have endured immense sacrifice, but that’s our patriotic duty. We want to thank you for the assist support mission, train-assist-support mission, because that is vital to the continued relationship and buildup of the capabilities of our armed forces.
Peace is our goal, but peace from strength and enduring peace that would bring regional cooperation, and it is important that all regional actors translate their words of the need for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan into deeds, and we hope very much that the past will be overcome and the future will be different from the past and would correspond to our vision.
On the economy, I can assure you that we have a sense of urgency. The reforms that are necessary to create a self-sustaining base to pay not only for our armed forces but for social services. And for uplifting the population out of poverty, our key focus in this depends both on utilization of our immense natural resources, but also regional economic integration and trade.
So once again, let me take this opportunity to thank the national security team of the United States for spending not just time but very valuable time with us. The value proposition today has been of immense benefit to the people of Afghanistan, and we hope to the people of the United States where our joint endeavors will ensure both our security and your security. So let me thank you again and thank the American people for trusting in this partnership and investing in it.
Doctor Abdullah.
CEO ABDULLAH: (In Dari), President Ghani, Secretary Kerry, Secretary Carter, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to all of you. I join President Ghani in thanking the American Administration, the American people for its contributions and sacrifices made alongside the people of Afghanistan which resulted in the change of lives for millions of Afghans for better. Now you have not only – you have a committed and dedicated partner in Afghan leaders, but also you have a grateful nation which is grateful for what you have done for us.
Today was a unique opportunity to once again take stock of what has happened, but, more importantly, the way forward. In four rounds of sessions, which I considered sessions of quality discussions and which in my engagement with our partners, I can consider it as a very unique, quality discussion opportunity. Truly, it was. Security, economic development, governance, reform, fiscal policies, reconciliation, regional cooperation were discussed, and not only we had honest exchanges of views and understanding of one another, but at the same time we strengthened our commitment to continue with the path of partnership, which has reached, as a result of formation of the unity government – I can also call it a new chapter in our relations with the United States. Once again, thank you for all what you have done, and the very intense schedule during our upcoming days, and at the same time but talking about President Eisenhower’s visit to Afghanistan, there was a little bit of age revelation as well. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT GHANI: Exactly.
CEO ABDULLAH: So I don’t remember that visit; I’d heard about it.
PRESIDENT GHANI: Were you born?
CEO ABDULLAH: That’s a different question. (Laughter.) So that shows that the relations goes back to the history, and then you have been with us during easy times and difficult times. And with today’s discussions and the upcoming opportunities that we are going to have, we will go back to our people reassured, strengthened, motivated – further motivated to continue the path in pursuit of our interest in our common interest which is in stable Afghanistan, democratic Afghanistan, connected Afghanistan, Afghanistan which is not a burden on its partners anymore but rather playing its part in giving to the region as well as to the world. Thank you all.
And on behalf of the unity government, President Ghani spoke this morning eloquently and that was expression of our thoughts, our feelings towards your servicemen, towards your country, towards your people. I join him in every word, and our commitment to make the unity government a functioning – a more functioning idea – not only idea, but an opportunity for the people of Afghanistan and opportunity for our partners is that we still rely on your support, but we are moving towards self-reliance. And as a result of that, Afghanistan will be a better place. Our region will be a more prosperous place.
Forrás: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson
