Afghan President Speaks to Maliks at IRI Sponsored Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2007

Washington, DC - Afghan President Hamid Karzai addressed a gathering of more than 3,000 Afghan Maliks (elders), at a conference June 19-20, 2007, sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and its Afghan partner the Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan (WADAN). Noting the importance of the group, the President asked his entire cabinet to also meet with them and begin a dialogue on issues facing towns and villages throughout the country.

In his address, President Karzai thanked the Maliks for their commitment to democracy in Afghanistan and urged them and the rest of the nation to come together to confront the challenges currently facing Afghanistan. The President noted that education and the rule of law are two crucial elements for sustainable development in Afghanistan’s and its long-term prosperity. “With education and law and order as the main goals to help create and sustain a civil Afghan society, the government will promote and put in practice these goals through active public participation and support for those who follow the government’s vision and mission of establishing a self-sustaining and peaceful society,” said President Karzai.

During a question and answer session with the President, a number of maliks raised concerns regarding deteriorating security conditions outside the capitol and insisted that local leaders should work together to mobilize their constituencies to maintain security by working closely with the federal government. President Karzai agreed stating that plans were already underway to implement such a policy.

After the event, President Karzai invited 80 representatives from the Maliks Association to meet with his cabinet the next day for further discussion. This meeting was a free and open exchange of concerns that focused mainly on security, education and health care.

The conference, to promote national solidarity and plan for the future of the Maliks Association, was held June 19 and 20, 2007 in Kabul. Over the past year and a half, IRI has been working with the Maliks, on civic education. The Maliks wield significant influence in their towns and villages, especially in rural provinces. During this program IRI has trained more than 17,000 Maliks and helped them organize an association that gives them a larger voice in Afghan government.

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