OTTAWA – John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister, and Bill Graham, Foreign Affairs Minister, today announced that Canada has re-established diplomatic
relations with Afghanistan following an exchange of diplomatic notes between
Canada and the Afghan Interim Administration.
The Deputy Prime Minister is in Afghanistan today, to meet with officials of the Interim Administration, discuss upcoming challenges and assess the situation on the ground first-hand. The visit is part of a nine-day trip to the region by Mr. Manley that included stops in Pakistan and India.
“The re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Afghanistan underscores
Canada’s support for the Interim Administration and our commitment to
continue working closely with officials in Kabul to rebuild the country and
improve the lives of its citizens,” said Mr. Manley. “We hope that the
Interim Administration will quickly lay the foundations for representative
government, the rule of law, respect for human rights and sound economic
policies.”
“Canada believes that the Interim Administration offers the best hope to end
the civil conflict, oppressive rule and suffering that the Afghan people
have endured for so long,” said Mr. Graham. “The re-establishment of
diplomatic ties will further enhance communication and cooperation between
Canada and Kabul at a time when coordination between national and
international partners is crucial.”
The Ministers noted that there are serious challenges ahead for the Interim
Administration, including the need to overcome ethnic divisions,combat
corruption, curtail opium production and rebuild the economy.
Canada severed diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in 1979 following the
Soviet invasion of that country. Ottawa did not establish diplomatic
relations with any of the regimes that have held power since the Soviet
withdrawal in 1989.
Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Konrad Sigurdson, who is resident in Islamabad, will have concurrent accreditation to Afghanistan.
Canada has provided Afghanistan with $160 million in humanitarian assistance
since 1990, $16 million of which was disbursed after September 11, 2001. At
the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction in Afghanistan on January 21 and 22,
International Cooperation Minister Susan Whelan pledged a further $100
million for humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan.
