Leader of Afghanistan's interim administration Hamid Karzai said Tuesday the transitional government to be selected at the Loya Jirga faced a major task in eradicating corruption and the influence of warlords.
Speaking at the opening session of the Loya Jirga assemble in the capital, Karzai said, "There is bribery and corruption in the government departments. Any future administration should rid the country of corruption and bribery."
He also said that the Afghan people need honor, dignity, education and progress. Men and Women ask for education and want to go to university.
United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi congratulated Karzai for his performance over the six months as interim leader and praised his administration for holding the Loya Jirga.
Deputies attending the Afghan Loya Jirga held in Kabul, June 11, 2002. The Loya Jirga consisting of 1,551 deputies will elect a transitional government with the term until the general election in 2004.
"In just under six months they have put Afghanistan back on track and established a foundation on which, God willing, the transitional authority will consolidate peace and lasting stability," he said.
In his opening remarks ahead of the ex-king's inaugural speech,the head of the Loya Jirga organizing committee Isamael Qasimyar called the meeting as "historic and destiny-making".
"The message of the Loya Jirga is a message of national unity, a message of peace and reconstruction. It is a manifestation of the free will of the Afghan people," he said.
"The people of Afghanistan have suffered for more than two decades. They have suffered tragedies. Now they have a chance for happiness," he said.
In his opening address, Zahir Shah asked all the delegates to give top priorities to national interests.
The 87-year-old former king renewed his support for interim leader Hamid Karzai to run for the leader of the transitional government.
The exterior view of the meeting hall of the Loya Jirga held in Kabul June 11, 2002.
"I deem it necessary to mention that dear Karzai has shown during this span of time qualities and efficacy, and I would like to declare that we support him and he is our candidate for the transitional period," the ex-king said.
The former king also declared he has no intention to restore the monarchy. "Now that there is a chance for the Loya Jirga, I would like to support it and I would like to declare that I do nothave the intention to restore the monarchy," he said.
At a joint press conference with the interim leader after theiremergent talks in his residence late Monday, Zahir Shah also expressed his support for Karzai.
About 1551 delegates of the Loya Jirga, which was scheduled on Monday and postponed twice to Tuesday, will decide who will govern Afghanistan for the next 18 months until the first general election in the war-torn country in 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2002)
