Afghan Ambassador lays the foundation stone – picture courtesy of The Canberra Times.

Under a carpet strewn tent in Deakin, H.E Mr. Mahmoud Saikal, Afghan Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand followed the Afghan traditions in laying the foundation stone of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra.

In attendance were many Afghan elders and invited local and international dignitaries to celebrate this significant event.

Colourful speeches and traditional symbolism were part of the ceremony. Large pictures of the master-plan and perspectives of the future Embassy buildings were on display.

To read the speeches delivered at the ceremony, please click below:

Message of His Excellency Governor-General of Australia (in PDF)
The Hon Christine Gullus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (in Word)
HE Mahmoud Saikal, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Australia & New Zealand (in Word)

To read more about the Afghan Embassy Building Complex in Canberra, please visit http://www.afghanembassy.net/building.htm and http://www.afghanembassy.net/n_aar_fund.html