Press Release
Embassy of Afghanistan - Canberra
15 May 2003

Prime Minister Helen Clarke with Afghan Ambassador (left) and First Secretary Mr Qassem

Afghanistan and New Zealand, for the first time in the history of the two countries, have established official diplomatic ties by cross accrediting ambassadors.

On 7th of May 2003, H.E. Mahmoud Saikal Ambassador of Afghanistan to Australia and New Zealand traveled to Wellington and during a special ceremony presented his credentials to Her Excellency the Honourable Dame Silvia (below) Cartwright PCNZM DBE, Governor-General of New Zealand. Afterwards, Ambassador Saikal attended a lunch reception hosted by the Governor-General.

The Government of New Zealand has designated His Excellency Mr. Niels Holm as the first Ambassador of New Zealand to Afghanistan, resident in Tehran. Ambassador Holm is yet to present his credentials to H.E. President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

Afghan Ambassador with New Zealand Defence Minister Mark Burton

During the visit to New Zealand, Ambassador Saikal held meetings with Prime Minister the Right Honourable Helen Clarke, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade the Honourable Phil Goff, Minister of Defence the Honourable Mark Burton, Minister of Immigration the Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Minister of Women's Affairs the Honourable Ruth Dyson, Speaker of the Parliament the Right Honourable Jonathan Hunt, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence the Honourable Peter Dunne, Chief Executive of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Simon Murdoch and Chief Executive of New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID).

Ambassador Saikal described his meetings with New Zealand leaders and officials "very warm, cordial, friendly and fruitful" and " a good start for the official ties of the two countries". He added that during his meetings bilateral relations between the two countries, with an emphasis on capacity building of the Afghan Government and improvements in agriculture and education were discussed.

Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah with New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff in Bali, April 2003

Ambassador Saikal also met more than 150 members of the Afghan Community in Auckland, and discussed at length the development of events in Afghanistan and the relations between New Zealand and Afghanistan. He also gave an interview to Radio New Zealand.

Members of the Afghan Community of Auckland meeting the Afghan delegation

During his visit to New Zealand, Ambassador Saikal was accompanied by Mr. Ahmad Shayeq Qassem, First Secretary of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra.