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April 2012 Newsletter Draft 2.Pub April, 2012 Afghan News Latest News Updates on increas- ing media and com- munications sector Television channels - 75 Radio stations - 160 Independent publica- tions – about 500 Mobile phone sub- scribers – nearly 18 million People with Internet access – 1.5 million Internet companies in operation – more than 40 Meeting on Tokyo Conference held in Kabul A meeting of representatives of civil society 8.4 million children now attending school was held on April 14th at the Minsitry of Fi- nance in preparation for the upcoming Tokyo The new educational year has officially be- Conference on Afghanistan. H.E. Senior Min- gun and this year 8.4 million children, 39% ister Hedayat Amin-Arsala, H.E. Dr. Hazrat of them girls, will go to school nationwide; Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance; H.E. the largest number ever. Mr. Shafiq Ahamd Qarizada, deputy minister Inside this issue: of policy; other officials of the Ministry, and At a ceremony to mark the start of the year, representatives of civil society came together H.E. President Hamid Karzai delivered a to discuss the important conference. The con- speech and rang a school bell. H.E. Minister Latest News Pg.1-5 ference will focus on future international co- for Education Farooq Wardak also gave operation, including private sector coopera- remarks on the occasion. tion, in Afghanistan’s continuing develop- ment, particularly in terms of the economy In other Educational news, a 4-classroom, 1- and infrastructure. laboratory building for a vocational high (Continued on page 2) 1 AfghanAfghan News, News, November April 2012 1010 Hon. Governor Sayaf, and the members operations and beyond, H.E. Dr. Ras- of the council. Mr. Rabbani follows the soul reiterated the commitment to the legacy of true progress that was started Afghanization of this sector, stating with H.E. former President Burhanuddin that “Afghan soldiers [are currently] in Rabbani, which brought thousands over control of providing security for at to the side of peace. least 50% of the Afghan population,” while also pointing to the continuing H.E. Foreign Minister Rassoul shares work towards a domestic and regional of progress of the peace process at the political peace solution: “we’ve also NATO/ISAF Defense and Foreign underlined the non-negotiable princi- Ministerial in Brussels ples and necessary outcomes for an inclusive, dignified, meaningful peace process: respect for the Afghan Consti- tution, especially its protections for the rights and freedoms of all Afghan citi- zens, especially Afghan women; free- dom of the press; consolidation of our young democracy; renunciation of violence, and severance of all ties with international terrorists.” H.E. cited that school specializing in agriculture was already the Afghanistan Peace and inaugurated in the Rodat district of Nan- Integration Program has brought over garhar province. The school was con- 4000 former anti-government combat- structed in 5 months On April 18 and 19, H.E. Foreign Minis- ants back to the side of peace. ter Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, along with H.E. The foundation stone of new 26- Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim In closing, H.E. Minister Rassoul classroom building for Syeedkhail dis- Wardak represented the Islamic Repub- ended with words both inspirational to trict high school was laid by Hon. Gov- lic of Afghanistan at the NATO and the upcoming Chicago and Tokyo con- ernor Abdul Basir Salangi of Parwan ISAF Foreign and Defense Ministerial ferences: “I have no doubt that, to- province earlier this month. The school meeting in Brussels, Belgium. Among gether, our shared determination and is being built with the assistance of the the many key dignitaries in attendance resolve is more than equal to the task Korea Provincial Reconstruction Team was H.E. Foreign Minister Koichiro of building a secure, stable, and pros- (PRT), and will be completed within 15 Gemba of Japan. perous Afghanistan through and be- months. yond the successful completion of the At the forefront of discussions were is- transition process.” In the Jabal Saraj district of Parwan sues related to the preparation for the province, a foundation stone for a 22- upcoming NATO summit in Chicago to Ambassador Fatimie attends event classroom high school was laid. The be held May 20-21, which will focus on hosted by Their Majesties the Em- new building will be ready in 15 the next stage of security operations in peror and Empress at the Imperial months. Afghanistan. While thanking interna- Gardens tional allies for their support in security Kabul Polytechnic University has en- rolled over 900 new male and female students this year. The school offers excellent programs in construction, ge- ology and mining, electro-mechanic and computer engineering, and chemical technology. Currently around 3,000 students study at the university (7% of them female). The school has also re- established Masters Degree programs. Salahuddin Rabbani appointed Chief of High Peace Council Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani was unani- mously appointed as the new Chairman of the Afghanistan High Peace Council at a meeting of H.E. President Karzai, H.E. Vice-President Marshal Fahim, Hon. Governor Attah Mohammad Noor, (Continued on page 3) 2 Afghan News, April 2012 Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie lunch reception to honor the exemplary Hiroyuki Moriyama, and Hon. Mr. on April 19 attended an event hosted by service of Madame Sadako Ogata. Ma- Hiroshi Hamamoto. Their Majesties the Emperor and Em- dame Ogata is retired as President of press at the Imperial Gardens. The event the Japan International Cooperation brought together the diplomatic commu- Agency (JICA) and was well known Rural development projects reach nity in Japan and key Japanese figures to and highly regarded around the world tens of thousands further deepen ties with Their Majesties as a champion of development, em- and the host nation. powerment, and peace . On this most special and important of The event brought together more than occasions, Ambassador Fatimie had the 100 distinguished supporters and well- honor of expressing deepest gratitude to wishers from such areas as the Japa- Their Majesties the Emperor, the Em- nese Government, the diplomatic com- press, the Crown Prince, and members of munity in Japan, NGOs, and private the Imperial Family for Their generous sector leaders. Speakers included Am- and noble support to Afghanistan’s peace bassador Fatimie, H.E. Parliamentary and development; and for further, as es- Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Two utility projects in Kapisa Prov- teemed embodiments of the Japanese Kazuyuki Hamada, and Madame ince were handed over to their respec- nation and people’s will, graciously ever Ogata’s successor, Mr. Akihiko Ta- tive communities. One of the projects, enhancing the ties between the nations. naka. Madame Ogata also spoke, shar- a 140-meter bridge in the Jamalagha ing reflections of her career in JICA, area, will give access for the 70,000 Ambassador Fatimie was also able to the encouraging progress she witnessed residents of Sayed Khel and Hes-e- interact with and express further the sin- in Afghanistan, and motivating others Dowam districts to markets and ser- cerest appreciation of the Afghan people to work towards the shared dream of vices in the nearby provinces. The and government to a number of key peo- world peace and prosperity. Following other project, a Community Center in ple, including H.E. Prime Minister Yo- the speeches, Ambassador Fatimie Albironi University, will assist the shihiko Noda, Hon. Councillor Naoto presented Madame Ogata with a cer- cultural needs of the residents and Kan, H.E. Economy, Trade and Industry tificate of appreciation and a lapis students of the University. Minister Yukio Edano, and H.E. Foreign vase; representing the Afghan commu- Minister Koichiro Gemba (pictured on nity in Japan, Mr. Haji Hussein, Ms. page 2). In addition to the warm greetings Sedeka Eto, and Ms. Sultani presented Companies approved for gold, cop- exchanged with these figures, Ambassa- flowers; and Mr. Kohi Amin presented per extraction dor Fatimie’s talks with H.E. Minister a gift of Afghan artistry. Gemba were particularly fruitful. Following an assessment period, of 41 Among the many key guests attending applying domestic companies and Madame Ogata’s honorary reception companies from India, the United Ambassador Fatimie, Embassy host a were Hon, former Prime Minister Ya- States, Canada, Britain, the United reception in honor of the exemplary suo Fukuda (pictured below), Hon. Mr. Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Australia, service of Madame Sadako Ogata Naoto Sakaguchi, Hon. Ms. Mieko 25 have been selected for investment Nakabayashi, Hon. Mr. Haranobu Yo- in gold and copper mines. The mines On April 10, Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. nenaga, Hon. Ms. Hiroko Oizumi, are located in a number of provinces, Amin Fatimie and the Embassy hosted a Hon. Mr. Hirotaka Matsuoka, Hon. Mr. including both copper and gold mines in Zarkashan, Ghazni; gold mines in Badakhshan; and a copper mine in Shedai, Heart. Preparations for mining are set to begin from now. Agricultural initiative to support Bamiyan farmers On April 1, the Bamiyan Agricultural Support Program (ASP) multi donor program was launched. ASP will pro- vide over 50,000 farmers in 40 Bami- yan-based cooperatives with access to support such as mechanical equipment including tractors, high quality wheat and potato seed, livestock marketing training, small business development support, district veterinary clinics and (Continued on page 4) 3 Afghan News, April 2012 to Minister for Communication and Infor- mation Technology Amir Zai Sangin. This development will support Afghan television channels and radio stations, including a shift from analogue transmis- sion to digital. Communications have been steadily in- creasing domestically since 2001; there are now 75 local television channels and 160 radio stations. Additionally, in other communications achievements, the num- ber of mobile phone subscribers now ex- the training of para-veterinarians, some 3,000 workers, most of them fe- ceeds 15 million.
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