Report on the Official Visit by His Excellency Dr A. Abdullah,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to New Zealand 20 - 23 August 2005

H. E. Dr Abdullah with Prime Minister Helen Clark

In response to an official invitation of the Government of New Zealand, His Excellency Dr Abdullah visited New Zealand from 20 to 23 August 2005.

During his visit to Wellington and Auckland, Minister Abdullah called on a number of New Zealand government leaders including the Honourable Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Honourable Phil Goff, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Honourable Mark Burton, Minister of Defence and the Honourable Marian Hobbs, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.


H. E. Dr Abdullah visiting the Joint Forces Headquarters of New Zealand

Accompanied by Commodore Jack Steer ONZM, RNZN, Acting Commander of the Joint Forces of New Zealand, Minister Abdullah also visited the Joint Forces Headquarters of New Zealand to meet the service personnel who had served as part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamian Province of Afghanistan. In his address to the gathering, Dr Abdullah thanked New Zealand for its important role in maintaining security and creating a safe environment for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.



H. E. Dr Abdullah on a Tank at the Joint Forces Headquarters

In meetings with New Zealand officials, Minister Abdullah discussed in detail the two countries’ relations. New Zealand reiterated its commitment to continue its multilateral assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan. Currently, New Zealand has more than 180 military personnel in Afghanistan, of which 123 work with the PRT in the Province of Bamian and the remaining are members of their Special Forces within the International Coalition fighting against terrorism. These forces will remain in Afghanistan at least until September 2006.

New Zealand’s assistance in maintaining security and reconstruction support to Afghanistan reaches a total of $110 million, including $20 million allocated for development aid and the remainder spent on the New Zealand PRT. The New Zealand leaders showed strong interest in bilateral assistance to Afghanistan in the fields of healthcare, in particular maternity and child support, agriculture and capacity building of the Afghan Government.

After meeting Minister Abdullah, New Zealand announced $1 million in extra aid to support the September Parliamentary Elections in Afghanistan.

On Sunday, August 21st, Minister Abdullah received representatives of the Afghan community in New Zealand, who discussed the achievements and challenges faced by the Afghans in that country. Later on he attended a function organized by the Afghan community in Auckland, on the occasion of the 86th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Afghanistan. The function was attended by more than a thousand Afghans living in various cities of New Zealand. In his speech, Minister Abdullah congratulated the gathering on Afghanistan’s Independence Day and expressed his deep appreciation of the Afghan community’s show of national solidarity in New Zealand.

Also, during his stay in New Zealand, Minister Abdullah gave interviews to major news papers, National Television and Radio which have been widely publicized.

For media coverage of the Foreign Minister Abdullah’s visit to New Zealand please visit the following articles:

1 -Afghanistan applauds New Zealand
2 -Press Release by Hon Marian Hobbs, Minister for Aid