Transcript: Karzai Addresses Joint Session of Congress

Afghan president Hamid Karzai addressed a joint session of Congress this morning. The following is a transcript of his remarks.

KARZAI: Thank you. Thanks a lot.

Thank you for the great honor.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, the great people of the United States of America, it is my distinct honor to speak on behalf of the Afghan people in this august assembly.

I thank you and the people of this great country for your generosity and commitment to our people. You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership in the world community and, most importantly, with the precious lives of your soldiers.

(APPLAUSE)

With your support, Afghanistan has accomplished a number of significant achievements. We have begun to rebuild our schools. Over 5 million children, boys and girls, are attending school today.

(APPLAUSE)

We have also commenced to develop health centers to provide basic services to our people, especially to our women and children who have suffered the most during the decades of war and turmoil.

(APPLAUSE)

We have embarked upon the reconstruction of our roads to encourage traders and businessmen to transport products to markets.

We have started to reconstitute our national army, our national institutions, national police in order to both defend our sovereignty and provide security to our citizens.

Our national army is being trained by American forces, American troops, and wherever we have deployed them, the Afghan people have welcomed them.

We have initiated the fight against narcotics to save our children, to save your children and children across the world from the evil of addiction to drugs.

(APPLAUSE)

KARZAI: The confidence of our citizens in the future of our country is clearly signified by the return of 3 million refugees in the past two years.

Once again, ladies and gentlemen, Afghanistan is the home of all Afghans.