R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Remarks as Prepared
October 31, 2006
I am honored to be here today to speak with a group that shares with the U.S. Government a great vision: to build a stable, open, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan. Stability and peace in Afghanistan is one of the United States' most important foreign policy priorities.
We meet today at a time when some have questioned the stability of the country and the efficacy of the US and international effort. I believe we can and will succeed. After almost three decades of conflict, the courageous and proud Afghan people deserve peace and prosperity. We hope to work with you to make this a reality. We will not leave until that job is done.
What We Have Accomplished Since 2001
There is reason to be optimistic about the future of Afghanistan, particularly if we remember the situation of the country just five years ago. In 2001, Afghanistan was the 5th poorest country in the world. Al Qaeda was a state within a state. Today, although it is not yet prosperous, Afghanistan is taking steps to enter the World Trade Organization; it has averaged annual growth rates around 9 percent since 2003; and it is actively engaged in trade. Economic development is on the rise – the World Bank estimates Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product to be $7.2 billion in 2006, up from $4.7 billion in 2003.
Five years ago, the Afghan Government was just learning to function. Today, President Karzai leads a stable national government for the first time in that country's history. The government has overseen successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections. President Karzai is now taking serious steps to institute good governance at the provincial and local levels.
And perhaps most heartening, we see countless little girls attending schools across the country. Thanks to sustained efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, enrollment in primary schools, which was a paltry 19.2 percent in 2000, has risen to 93 percent in 2004.
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