May, 2013 May, Afghan News Latest News Select Afghan Media Indicators

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H.E. President Karzai Inaugurates Qasaba Housing Project

H.E. President on May 17th H.E. Foreign Minister Dr. Rassoul inaugurated the Qasaba housing project in Introduces H.E. Deputy Minister Ahmadi Khwajah Rawash of city. In a speech at the event, H.E. the President hailed the project as “another step for welfare and bet- terment of the lives of our people,” and ex- pressed praise and gratitude for cooperation to the United Emirates (UAE) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

Inside this issue: In total, 111 five-story buildings will be constructed over three years for a combined H.E. Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul on 3,333 apartments. The apartments are to be May 15th introduced H.E. Mr. Ershad Latest News Pg.1-5 donated to the poor and homeless. The com- Ahmadi as Deputy Minister of Political Af- plex will be equipped with such public fa- fairs. H.E. Mr. Ahmadi succeeds Mr. Jawed cilities as a mosque, health clinic, kinder- Ludin, whose distinguished performance garten, and park. The project will also cre- spanned more than two years. H.E. Minister ate employment opportunities for some Rassoul took the occasion to offer apprecia- 3,000 workers. tion for former Deputy Minister Ludin’s valu- able service, saying “his efforts, creativity,

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AfghanAfghan News, News, November May2013 1010 patience, and wisdom played a signifi- and conveyed best wishes to H.E. Presi- development and peace process. cant role in achieving the targets of our dent Hamid Karzai. Within this, the Ambassador ex- government. Mr. Ludin served his coun- pressed that the people of Kana- try in a very sensitive and important Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was extremely gawa’s kind efforts were also cru- period of time.” fortunate to meet with Chancellor cial in the overall Japanese and Kenshiro Matsunami of Nippon Sport international efforts that have con- Mr. Ershad Ahmadi previously served Science University and Mrs. Matsunami, tributed to real achievements. Later, as the Chief of Programs for office of close personal friends and friends to all the Ambassador would add that the president, Advisor to the H.E. Presi- Afghan people. Mr. Matsunami was with great leaders such as leaders dent Hamid Karzai, Deputy Head of the characteristically kind and cordial. Am- like Hon. Governor Kuroiwa as High Office of the Oversight and Anti- bassador Dr. Fatimie had the honor to friends, the future of ’s Corruption, Charge d’ Affaires of the reiterate sincerest appreciation for the peace and development would be Embassy of Afghanistan in Canada, and invaluable role played by Mr. Matsu- without concern. The Hon. Gover- Director General of the Fifth Political nami and his distinguished wife. An- nor in turn welcomed sincerely the Department of the Ministry of Foreign other key friend met was Mr. Dan Ha- Ambassador and praised the ac- Affairs. In his remarks Mr. Ershad rada, a man of great insight and vision. complishments of Afghanistan, Ahmadi said, “My appointment as the Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed best stating that he is eager to work Deputy Foreign Minister for Political regards to this gentleman. closely with the Afghan residents Affairs poses a unique and specific of Kanagawa to promote more challenge and that is the expectation of Prominent among other key guests met friendship and mutual understand- the young generation of my country.” by Ambassador Dr. Fatimie were Hon. ing. Councillor Satsuki Katayama; Hon. Councillor Seichi Eto; Hon. Representa- With overlapping interests and Ambassador Fatimie attends event tive Arata Takebe; Hon. Representative goals, such as the health of their hosted by Hon. Representative Nikai, Moto Hayashi; Mr. Kusaka, the secre- respective citizens and love of na- meets with H.E. Prime Minister Abe tary to Hon. Councillor Yasuhiro Oe; ture, the two enjoyed fruitful con- and renowned artist Koji Kinuka.. versation on a number of topics. In closing, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie invited investment in Afghanistan’s Ambassador Fatimie greets Governor natural resources by Kanagawa- Kuroiwa of Kanagawa based groups.

More Schools Serving More Children, Adults

May 7, 2013: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a reception hosted by Hon. Representative Toshi- hiro Nikai (pictured above, shaking May 16, 2013: Ambassador Dr. Sayed hands with the Ambassador), a member M. Amin Fatimie received a warm wel- The foundation stone of a primary of the Afghan-Japanese Parliamentary come from Hon. Governor Yuji girls’ school was laid this month in Friendship League. The event brought Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture upon Kandewal village, Cheghcheran together an estimated more than 3,000 his visit to the latter’s office. Mr. Jason city center of Ghor province. The members of the Liberal Democratic Pratt, Public Affairs Officer at the Em- building will be constructed within Party, supporters, and friends of this bassy of the Islamic Republic of Af- a year with the assistance of Japan. respected politician and ally of peace. ghanistan, was also in attendance. Am- Also this month, Japan vowed to bassador Fatimie has made it a priority over the next two years cooperate Prominent among the guests in atten- to further strengthen the bonds between with the Afghan government to dance was H.E. Prime Minister Shinzo Afghanistan and the prefectures of Ja- build an additional 70 new school Abe. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was af- pan. Kanagawa holds significance buildings in Bamiyan, Ghor, and forded the great honor of speaking with within this initiative. Daikundi provinces. H.E., expressing deepest gratitude for the crucial facilitation of life-bettering Ambassador Dr. Fatimie first of all ex- Kabul University has begun the development that Japan has extended, pressed, on behalf of the people and construction of a new 3-story build- calling particular attention to the role Government of the Islamic Republic of ing for the Computer Science Fac- that H.E. has played both now and in Afghanistan, deepest gratitude for the ulty with the partnership of Japan the past. H.E. the Prime Minister gra- generous and effect-generating coopera- and the Office for ciously reacted positively to the remarks tion extended by Japan to Afghanistan’s 2

Afghan News, May 2013

Project Services. A ceremony was held at fair. It aims to facilitate the placement the school to mark the occasion, attended of job seekers in available positions in by H.E. Minister Obaidullah Obaid of the health facilities throughout the nation. Ministry of Higher Education, H.E. Am- In particular, the focus of the fair was bassador Hiroshi Takahashi of Japan, on recruiting recent graduates and Kabul University Chancellor Habibullah young job seekers. More than 1170 Habib, and Deputy Chancellor vacant posts were announced at the Mohammad Hadi Hedayati. Currently fair, all of which are open to both gen- 550 students study computer science at ders. the university, and 30% of these are fe- male. The school has also increased its It is said that currently more than from Hairatan to Kaldar district in transportation capacity through the acqui- 36,000 people are employed in the Baghlan. sition of a team of mini buses. The buses health sector, 12,800 of these are will be used to move students between women. The Taloqan river in Takhar prov- the campus and research centers. ince’s Bangi district has been outfitted with a 150-meter retaining wall and A new education department building SEHAT to Aid Further 200-meter canal. The project provides was inaugurated in Nuristan province on Afghanization of Health Sector protection against floods for 300 fami- May 5th and construction work is set to lies and other irrigation benefits for begin soon for a building for Helmand As part of the efforts being made to nearly 4,000 families in total. The 8- University. bring greater Afghan oversight to all month work on the projects was sup- sectors, the Afghanistan System En- ported by Germany’s BMZ. (Photo The first district-level agricultural insti- hancement for Health Action in Transi- courtesy of Pajhwok) tute building in Badakhshan province tion (SEHAT) program is being estab- was inaugurated in the Baharak district lished with the cooperation of the The foundation stone of a 11,000- with the assistance of Germany, the KfW World Bank. SEHAT will work to ex- square-meter park for women was laid Development Bank and its partner, and pand the scope, quality, and coverage in Maidan Wardak province on May the Aga Khan Foundation. The institute of basic health and essential hospital 4th. A ceremony on the occasion was will provide education to more than 500 services in both rural and urban areas attended by Hon. Governor Abdul students. The building has nine class- in 22 of the 34 provinces. It will also Majid Khogyani. Within the year, a rooms, labs, a library, a computer room, work to build the capacity of the Min- park for children and a zoo will also be and “specialized departments for live- istry of Public Health. built in the province. stock, crops, and forestry,” according to Wadsam news. Over five years through 2018, the pro- gram pledges to facilitate the follow- Bamiyan, Baghdis Agriculture A ceremony was held on the occasion, ing: Sectors Expanding attended by Hon. Governor Dr. Shah • Vaccination of 60% of children aged Waliullah Adib; the head of the provin- between 12 and 23 months for five It has been reported that 100,000 hec- cial council, Mr. Abdul Wahid Taibi; the preventable diseases tares of land in Bamiyan province Deputy Ambassador of the German Em- • Provision of antenatal care to 40% of have been converted to agricultural bassy, Mr. Oliver Owcza; and the Chief pregnant women use this current year, showing the Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Foun- • Provision of counseling on infant and growing capability of farmers and irri- dation in Afghanistan, Mr. Akhtar Iqbal; young child feeding to 50% of preg- gation systems. While potatoes are among other key persons. nant and lactating women said to be the main crop, other local • Achievement of full budgetary auton- products are showing excellent in- In related news, this month the World omy at 15 national hospitals creases in yield, such as wheat and Bank agreed to support professional and honey. vocational education in Afghanistan. Development Projects Underway, The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation A national institute of mining is sched- Completed Nationwide and Livestock will rehabilitate 200 uled to be built with the support of India. hectares of pistachio forests in Bag- Afghanistan is one of the most mineral Construction will begin soon in Hel- dhis’ Abkamari and Qadis districts. rich nations in the world. India is a sig- mand province on the Kajaki power The 3-year project will involve a num- nificant partner in the venture as it has dam and a cotton factory. Hon. Gov. ber of sub-projects, including im- been increasingly cooperating in the areas Mohammad Naeem was quoted by provement of irrigation to the area. of mining, finance, and trade. Pajhwok as saying that he hopes the factory will be completed in a year and ready to support employment of thou- Health Sector Job Fair Held sands; it will be supported by India.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Work began on May 13th to repair and on May 11th and 12th held its initial job gravel 13-kilometers of road stretching

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Afghan News, May 2013

World Bank Reports Positive important visit, H.E. signed a tripartite showing qualifies Afghanistan to par- Economic Growth agreement on the construction of a rail- ticipate in the Under-19 World Cup. way from Turkmenistan’s Atmarad, Earlier this month, the World Bank re- through the Imam Nazar region near to The Afghan team in its undefeated cam- leased its latest economic update on the Afghan border, and into Tajikistan paign overcame through strong per- Afghanistan, citing inspiring growth. with His counterparts from Turkmeni- formances challengers that included the Some of the key indicators reported are stan and Tajikistan. As reported by Bak- United Arab Emirates and Thailand as follows. htar news, “according to the agreement (photo from Bakhtar). • Real GDP increased from 7.3% in experts from the three countries [will] 2011 to an estimated 11.8% in 2012, assess the technical, legal and financial largely due to an exceptional harvest details of the project” over the next National Soccer Team Quickly In- and large-scale mining activities. As the month. Practical work on the project is creases in World Rankings mining sector grows and with the in- expected to begin in “another four crease of oil production in Amu Darya, months.” the GDP growth trend will continue • Inflation decreased to 6.4% The project is being hailed as a great • International reserves were increased. potential facilitator for development economically and otherwise both within the three nations and regionally overall. Paktika Revenue Exceeding This will be another step in restoring the Expectations Silk Road area as a world financial hub and better bring Afghan resources and Paktika province has been reporting manpower to the world. Afghanistan’s national soccer team has expectation-exceeding revenue collec- shown great improvement in world tions due to strong business. Last year, rankings. In March, Afghanistan im- officials from Paktika’s revenue depart- Cement Packaging Plant proved its ranking from 189 to 141. ment had had a goal of collecting 17 Established This month, it improved to 139. Afghan million afghanis, but were able to col- players are increasingly also playing lect 44 million. This year, with a target A cement packaging plant has been built internationally. Zohib Islam Amiri, pic- 63 million, they have already collected in Zaranj, Nimroz Province. Independ- tured below in red, has been playing for 21 million in the first 4 months. ent production is likely to begin in the Mumbai FC in India’s I-League. third quarter of the year. Afghanistan has previously needed to import large Afghanistan is also performing well in First Commercial Oil Production quantities of cement. beach soccer. The first Afghan ever has Beginning in July been signed to play pro beach soccer in Brazil, Hazrat Gul Baran. The first commercial oil production Pepsi Plant to Open in 2014 ever in Afghanistan is expected to begin within the next two months in the Amu PepsiCo plans to open its first plant in Afghan Victorious at Asian Snooker river basin (Amu Darya). China Na- Afghanistan in 2014 in a partnership Championships tional Petroleum (CNPC) will be head- with the Alokozay group. Located in the ing the project, but there will be great Kabul industrial zone near rival Coca- The 29th amateur Asian snooker cham- benefits domestically. H.E. Minister of Cola, the venture looks to create roughly pionship was held on May 3rd with 32 Mines Wahidullah Shahrani told Aus- 3,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly. representatives of roughly 15 nations tralia’s ABC news that “the oil produc- competing. Saleh Mohammad won the tion will eventually supply oil domesti- tournament, the first Afghan ever to do cally.” Afghanistan Wins U-19 Asia Elite so, beating 7 opponents before defeating The rights to five or six more major Cup Undefeated Syria's Omar al Kojah 7-2 in the final projects, including rights to extract oil, match. gas, copper, gold, and iron ore, are also due to be awarded within the next Mohammad operates a snooker hall in month. Kabul.

Afghanistan More Capable of Royal Philharmonic Award Bestowed Reprising Silk Road-Era Trade on Dr. Sarmast Prominence through Multi-National Train Network On May 14th in London, Dr. Ahmad Naser Sarmast was awarded the Royal H.E. President Hamid Karzai recently Afghanistan’s national Under-19 Cricket Philharmonic Award. The UK-based visited Turkmenistan as part of the Team won this month’s Asia Elite Cup Royal Philharmonic Award is a music Nowroz New Year celebrations. On this hosted by Malaysia. The successful award recognizing musical visionaries.

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Afghan News, May 2013

Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo Contact Us 2-2-1 Azabudai, If you have any comments, questions or Minato ward, Tokyo, 106-0041 suggestions regarding this newsletter or the Embassy, please send an e-mail to Tel: 03-5574-7611 the embassy’s Public Affairs Officer, Fax: 03-5574-0195 Jason Pratt:

Website [email protected] www.afghanembassyjp.org

Dr. Ahmad Naser Sarmast is a Research Lion of Kabul Recruited for 'Clean Fellow at Monash University in Mel- and Green' Campaign bourne, Australia and the Founder and Director of Afghanistan National Insti- A new “clean and green” campaign is tute of Music (ANIM). He has sup- underway in Kabul municipality to pro- ported young musicians in a number of mote ecology and cleanliness in the locations around the world in efforts to city. The mascot of the campaign, Shir diversify music internationally. Accord- Sultan the lion, has been visiting ing to Bakhtar news, “the Afghanistan schools as part of the promotion, dis- National Institute of Music is the first tributing coloring books and other mate- institution for the education and nurtur- bassy. The one-month excavation comes rials. Shir Sultan is popular with school- ing of gifted young Afghan musicians.” after finding 47 ancient relics at the site children. He has been asking children to last year; these previously found items become friends of Kabul, which re- are now at the national museum. quires the children to be positive agents Mughal Art, Culture Exhibition of change. They are taught hygienic habits and asked to assist civic authori- First Female Afghan Air Force Pilot ties to keep the city clean and green, Graduates in 30 years according to BBC news. The BBC also adds that “last year alone, Shir Sultan The air force in its continuing capacity was directly introduced to more than building is also reflecting Afghanistan’s 25,000 children.” dedication to gender equality. 2nd Lieu- tenant Niloofar Rahmani recently gradu- ated within a class of 9 to become the Amir Ali Shir Nawae Shrine Recon- first female Afghan pilot to be trained structed inside the country in decades. She will Opened serve as an inspiration to other aspiring This month, an official ceremony was On May 13th, an exhibition on the art women. Having now finished the under- held in Herat to mark the reconstruction and culture of the Mughal Empire was graduate pilot training, she will now of the shrine to famous ninth century opened in the Queen Castle of Bagh-i enter secondary training to become a poet and scholar Amir Ali Shir Nawae. Babur (Babur’s Garden) in Kabul. specialist in certain types of aviation. The ceremony, which was attended by Paintings and pictures displaying the Hon. Governor Daud Shah Saba and the achievements of the Mughal Empire advisor of the Ministry of Information and the lifestyle of its rulers were dis- Modern Music Festival Held and Culture Jalal Nurani. In his speech, played. The exhibition was supported Mr. Nurani reaffirmed that the Ministry by the Ministry of Information and Cul- This month, the Sound Central Festi- attaches great importance to the recon- ture, the Agha Khan Foundation, the val’s third annual music event was held struction of historical monuments. Norwegian Embassy, and the British in Kabul. Music artists performed in Library. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Eye) front of a live audience of hundreds at a Many regard Nawae as one of Central time. The festival was also streamed live Asia’s most important and groundbreak- worldwide on the Internet. Over 30 mu- ing literary figures. Growing up in Digging in Narinj Tapa Begins sic acts performed over 4 days, includ- Heart, in northwestern Afghanistan, ing District Unknown, rapper Ramika, Nawae was one of the first great poets Archeological excavation began on May Ariana Delawari, and Kabul-based expat to write in the Uzbek language. 4th in Narinj Tapa in Shuhadi Salihin, rockers White City. The event featured Kabul city under the auspices of the one day of only female artists. Ministry of Information and Culture and with the supported of the French em-

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