Saturday, April 14, 2012
Kabul (BNA) President Hamid Karzai met Stephen Smith, Defense Minister of Australia at presidential palace the other day.
Australian Defense Minister said Australia is interested in foregoing a strategic partnership with Afghanistan.
Defense Minister Smith said, the draft strategic partnership document has been handed over to the Afghan Ministry of foreign affairs and hoped that the draft be finalized as soon as possible by the governments of the two countries which is expected to be signed by the presidents of the two countries during Chicago Conference.
Pointing at a series of strategic partnerships between Afghanistan and some key countries in the world, Stephen Smith stressed that Australia is also interested in long-term cooperation with Afghanistan and gave assurances that the international community would not leave Afghans alone beyond 2014.
Briefing president Karzai on his trip to southern provinces of Afghanistan, the Australian Defense Minister said that security situation has improved in Uruzgan province and the province is fully prepared for the 3rd phase of security transition.
President Karzai thanked Australia for its assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan and said that the Afghan government would review the draft strategic partnership documents as quickly as possible so that it could be finalized for signing.
Expressing his gratitude for activities carried out by the Australian troops in Uruzgan province, the president called on the Australian soldiers to further contribute to enhancing education in that province.
