EMBASSY’S ACTIVITIES

August 2007

Celebrations for Afghan National Day

The Embassy of Afghanistan in Australia celebrated Afghan National Day at two functions in Canberra on 18 and 20 August 2007 respectively.  Afghan National Day celebrates Afghan independence that was gained on 19 August 1919 under King Amanullah.

The function on 18 August invited the Afghan community in Canberra and their friends to enjoy a celebration of traditional favorite food, Afghan music and other entertainment while taking pleasure in each other's company on this significant date in the Afghan calendar.

On 20 August the Embassy hosted a function for the Diplomatic Corps, Government members and officials, non-government organisations and other friends that provided a taste of Afghan hospitality while celebrating Afghanistan's independence.

Ambassador Jayhoon called on Hon. Paul Calvert the president of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Australia on Monday 18th June 2007.

After the usual introduction Ambassador Jayhoon convey the message of His Excellency Hazrat Saib Sebghatullah Mojadedi the President of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the president of the senate of Australia.

Ambassador Jayhoon mentioned that with support International community    Afghanistan made a lot of achievements since the fail of the Taliban. Now Afghanistan has elected President, elected parliament and a modern Constitution which recognized equal rights for all Afghan citizens.

Hon. Paul also expressed his sincere regards to Hazrat Saib Sebghatullah Mojadedi the President of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and welcomed Ambassador Jayhoon to his new position and pledge that Australia will continued its commitment and will assist Afghanistan in different fields.

January 2007

Ambassador Anwarzai met Ms Rosemary Greaves, Assistant Secretary of the International Co-operation Branch of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) on Friday 19th January 2007.

The Ambassador and Ms Greaves discussed a DIMA sponsored scholarship plan for members of Afghan government departments to travel to Australia and train in specific government sectors through Monash University in Melbourne. This program would last 13 weeks and begin later on this year.

Ms Greaves also thanked the Ambassador on behalf of the Australian Government for the embassy’s help in clearing Afghan refugees from Australian detention centres. Ms Greaves asked for the Afghan embassy’s assistance in repatriation of a number of Afghan asylum seekers who are currently in Indonesia, back to Afghanistan. Ambassador Anwarzai agreed to inform the Afghan authorities of this venture.

Ambassador Anwarzai requested of Ms Greaves that the Australian government, in consultation with IOM and UNHCR develop a contingency plan for Afghan refugees in Pakistan in the event of their involuntary repatriation to Afghanistan.  The Ambassador then extended the Afghan government’s thanks towards the Australian government for their continued assistance in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

December 2006

Ambassador Anwarzai visited Melbourne on Eid ul Adha (December 30, 2006). After performing Eid prayers with more than two thousand Afghans, he greeted his compatriot and offered his best wishes on Eid days and the New Year.

Later on in the day, Mr. Anwarzai attended a press conference where he briefed the journalists about the recent developments in Afghanistan.  Questions regarding security and various other issues were also addressed during the conference.

Mr. Ambassador also attended the Eid concert in Dandenong organized by the Hazara Association of Victoria. During this program Mr. Ambassador conveyed His Excellency President Hamid Karzai and the Embassy’s best wishes and Eid greetings. Subsequently, Mr. Anwarzai updated the audience about the situation and the recent developments in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Ambassador Anwarzai expressed appreciations for organizing the event and he stated that the Victorian Associations should put more efforts in bringing the communities together by organising conferences, events and meetings.

On Sunday December 31, 2006 Ambassador Anwarzai hosted an afternoon tea for a number of Afghan families. Later that day a number of Afghan professionals, intellectuals and media personnel had dinner with Ambassador Anwarzai.

On Monday January 1, 2007 Ambassador Anwarzai visited the Mousawee family where he offered his condolences for loss of their 13 year old daughter at a Melbourne beach. Later that day, officials from the Arman and Lemar Newsletters conducted interviews with Ambassador Anwarzai before he left for Sydney.

In Sydney, Mr. Anwarzai met with Afghan Community leaders, Afghan professionals and other compatriots. Various discussions about recent development and Embassy activities in NSW took place during these meetings.

Ambassador Anwarzai called on Alan March, Humanitarian Coordination and Assistant Director of General Public Affairs for the Australian Agency for International Development at AusAID, on December 13, 2006.

Besides discussion over bilateral issues of the two countries, Ambassador Anwarzai presented the project of “Distribution of Radio Transmitters” for South and South Eastern Regions of Afghanistan to defy the anti-government campaigns in the region during this meeting.

Meanwhile, a brief discussion over Capacity Building for Afghan government personnel and Diplomacy Courses for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place.

Mirwais Samadi, Second Secretary and Maseeh Nasheet, Media Relations Officer, called on Cathy Dillon, Manager of Minerals Developments Section and Mr. David Merit, Foreign Investment Strategist at the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources on December 06, 2006.

During the meeting, Ms. Dillon was updated about recent achievements of  the Afghan Government in Mines and Industry sectors. Mr. Samadi also briefed Ms. Dillon on Afghanistan’s rich natural resources and the Afghan Government’s future plans for their explorations.

Ms. Dillon suggested a workshop for all major Australian Investors should be organised to facilitate future investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

The host organization promised their full cooperation with the arrangements of the workshop and they offered Mr. Samadi the Australian Geo-Science Guide as the first step towards arrangements of the workshop.

Ambassador Anwarzai met Her Excellency Helen Liddell, British High Commissioner in Canberra on October 12, 2006 in her office.

During the meeting, the two country’s bilateral relations, the recent security issues and uprising of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and the region were discussed. Ambassador Anwarzai also briefed Her Excellency on the increasing cross border terrorism.

Hon. Liddell expressed concern about the deteriorating situation and said that Terrorism and narcotics have strong links. Therefore, solid steps must be taken in order to eradicate drug cultivation and the roots of terrorism from the region.

Ambassador Anwarzai called on Ms. Annmaree O’Keeffe, Deputy Director General at the Global Programs Division of AusAID on October 17, 2006.

Ambassador Anwarzai extended the Afghan Government’s appreciations of AusAID’s generosity and active role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction process.

Besides talks about the two countries strengthening bilateral relations, Ambassador Anwarzai, briefed Ms. O’Keeffe on the recent developments and reconstruction process in various sectors in Afghanistan.  Meanwhile, Mr. Anwarzai urged that more work and cooperation is required in sectors such as; capacity building, improving the Afghan judicial system, training of Afghan National Police and provision of opportunities for vocational training in Afghanistan. 

In reply, Ms. O’Keeffe admired the current progresses and developments in Afghanistan and assured the Ambassador that AusAID will fully cooperate with the Nation Building programs with the Afghan Government.

Ambassador Anwarzai called on Ms. Deborah Stoke, First Assistant Secretary of South and West Asia, Middle East and Africa Division, of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on September 26, 2006. Ms. Janice Carol, representative from the Department of Defence, Mr. Michael Bliss, Director of International Law and Transitional Crime of DFAT and Mr. Seyam Sediqyar, Afghan Embassy’s Third Secretary were also present at the meeting.

Ambassador Anwarzai expressed his appreciations for the Australian Government’s active part in Afghanistan's reconstruction and nation building. Subsequently, a discussion over Pakistan’s role in cross border terrorism took place. Ms. Stoke strongly condemned terrorism and she emphasized that Pakistan must fully cooperate with the international community to eradicate the roots of terrorism from the region.

Similarly, Ambassador Anwarzai highlighted that terrorism should not only be fought by military means, but rather the international community should support the Afghan government’s institutions to strengthen the education, economy and vocational training sectors to engage the public with living in peace, harmony and social lives.

In response to Ambassador Anwarzai’s comments, Ms. Stokes offered to assist the Afghan Government by various means. Meanwhile, she promised to organise short term diplomatic courses for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Personnel in early 2007.

Ambassador Anwarzai attended a meeting with Department of Defence Officials in September 2006.

Besides discussions over the two countries military relations, there were talks over Afghanistan’s security and recent terrorism concerns.

The Defence Officials expressed concern over the current terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and they promised to do more to assist the international community and the Afghan government to uproot global terrorism from the region.

Meanwhile, the Officials promised to sponsor and train Afghan Army officials in Australia. Future prospects of continuing such projects were also discussed.

Ambassador Anwarzai hosted a lunch for His Excellency Mr. Brett Hackett, Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan on August 24, 2006.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ambassador Hackett was Director of the Philippines and East Timor Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ambassador Hackett has also served as Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission, Islamabad (2002-05).

Besides talks about Afghan-Australian relations,a brief discussion over Afghan current security took place.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Anwarzai informed Ambassador Hackett that training Afghan National Police is the solution to many local and social issues in Afghanistan.

This story was reported by SBS radio.

Ambassador Anwarzai participated in the commemoration meeting of Afghan National Hero, Ahmad Shah Masoud’s fifth anniversary of his martyrdom in Melbourne and Sydney on the 9th and 10th of September 2006.

Ambassador Anwarzai delivered his speech to more than two hundred people who attended the ceremonies. Recitation of holy Quran and presenting speeches and poems were main parts of the program.

The functions finished with prayers for all Afghan martyrs souls and for hopes of a more stable and unified Afghanistan.

Ambassador Anwarzai attended memorial services for the September 11 victims at the Embassy of the United States on September 11, 2006.

The event was also attended by Australian Government Officials including His Excellency Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. Other Heads of Core Diplomatic were also present at the event.

Ambassador Anwarzai called on Honourable Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on September 14, 2006.

Ambassador Anwarzai expressed his gratitude for appointing Mr. Brett Hackett as Australian Ambassador in Afghanistan. Ambassador Anwarzai also emphasized that the newly established Australian Mission in Afghanistan will facilitate and strengthen the military, trade, educational and cultural sectors between the two country.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Anwarzai thanked Honourable Downer for his Department’s generosity and its active role in reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Some of the other agendas discussed during this meeting were as follows:

Whilst expressing concern over cross border terrorism and attacks by the Al-Qaeda and remnants of Taliban, Honourable Downer showed confidence in President Karzai’s Government and stated that the Australian Government supports the above agenda and that they will ensure to bring peace and stability in the region by military means and greater emphasis on educational, economical, trade and vocational training sectors.

A six member Delegation from Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) visited Australia on September 4 – 18, 2006.

The purpose of the trip was to familiarise and train the newly established Body personnel with election processes and systems.