Foreign Minister Spanta meets Deputy UN Special Representative
to Afghanistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta today met with Mr. Peter Galbraith, Deputy to the UN Special Representative to Afghanistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta met with Mr. Zamir Kabulov, Russian Ambassador to Kabul.Foreign Minister Spanta underscored the expansion of Afghanistan-Russian relations and highlighted the recent quad-lateral meeting of Heads of States of Afghanistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Pakistan, which convened in Dushanbe. He also praised the Russian Ambassador for his role in the consolidation of Afghanistan-Russian Federation relations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta paid an official visit to New Delhi, India from 26-28 July 2009, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Foreign Minister Mr. S. M. Krishna.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Kabir Farahi today met with the Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Reto Stocker.

At the outset Mr. Stocker expressed appreciation on behalf of the ICRC for Afghanistan's cooperation with the institution over the past many years. He attached importance to Afghanistan's signing of the Geneva Convention and its readiness to ratify and adopt the conventions two-additional protocols, one of which concerned the issue of civilian protection

Foreign Minister Spanta congratulates Mongolian counterpart on his appointment as Foreign Minister.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta has congratulated Mr. Sukhbaatar Batbold on his recent appointment as Mongolia’s Foreign Minister.

The government of the People's Republic of China has made a financial contribution in the amount of $500,000 for up-coming presidential elections in Afghanistan. The contribution was made on the basis of the agreement reached between Foreign Minister Spanta and his Chinese counterpart during the recent official visit to China.

Afghanistan respects the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the People's Republic of China and believes that Chinese leadership will adequately address the issue in accordance with its national interest.

The Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Mr. Ehsan Zia signed 7 development projects in the province of Urozgan today 29th January 2009.
The projects include 3 intakes, 2 retaining wall with 2011 M length, 1500 M roads and construction of a 60 M motor able bridge at cost of more then 2 million USD.
The projects will be completed in 3 to 4 months benefiting 72 thousands people in Trinkot area at Urozgan.

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations hosted a reception on Wednesday, jointly with the Permanent Mission of Germany, to mark the opening of a photography exhibition entitled "Afghanistan - The Country and its People."

The exhibition showcases more than a hundred photographs by the renowned German photographer Mr. Helmut R. Schulze taken in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2008. The photographs display the breathtaking landscapes and eloquent faces of Afghanistan, showing an alluring and intriguing country that is often eclipsed in the media by images of war and devastation. Although depicting the poverty and isolation of many of the inhabitants, Mr. Schulze's photographs nevertheless show an enduring, patient people dedicated to survival despite the difficulties.

The two sides discussed a range of issues, including Afghanistan-Poland bilateral relations; international efforts in Afghanistan and the situation in the region.

Foreign Minister Sikorski reiterated his government's continued commitment to Afghanistan for the coming years. He highlighted the recent decision of the Polish government to increase military and humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, noting that "the number of Polish soldiers serving in Afghanistan would increase to 2,200" in the coming months, which would make Poland "the sixth largest military contingent in Afghanistan."

Moreover, he expressed his government's readiness for additional assistance for Afghanistan, including the "construction of 4 kilometers of roads and support for radio-broadcast and television networks in Ghazni province." He also said his government would "contribute an additional one-million Euros to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) in 2009."