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(15 Jun 2004) 1. Wide of US House and Senate members in House chamber 2. Karzai entering chamber, shaking hands with politicians and US Secretary of State Colin Powell 3. Wide of politicians applauding 4. Wide of Karzai approaching podium 5. US Secretary of State Colin Powell applauding 6. Wide of Karzai on podium, tipping his hat, with US Vice President Dick Cheney and US Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert behind 7. Wide of audience sitting down 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President: “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.“ 9. Wide of House 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President: “Ladies and gentlemen, Afghanistan has emerged from a very dark era, one of oppression and terror.“ 9. Politicians applauding 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President: “Together, we have come a long way, but our common journey is far from over. Many obstacles exist and numerous milestones remain to be reached before we can fully realise our shared vision of a stable, prosperous, and democratic Afghanistan.“ 11. Politicians applauding 12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President: “The tragedy of September 11 once again tied the destinies of our two nations. You came to Afghanistan to defeat terrorism, and we Afghans welcomed you and embraced you for the liberation of our country. Together, we ended the rule of terrorism.“ 13. Politicians applauding 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President: “This requires sustaining and accelerating the reconstruction of Afghanistan through long-term commitment, a free-trade agreement between the United States and Afghanistan and providing incentives to the private sector for investing in Afghanistan. We must enhance our strategic partnership. The security of our two nations is intertwined.“ 15. Politicians applauding 16. Wide of Karzai shaking hands with Cheney and Hastert 17. Karzai removes hat and nods to audience STORYLINE: Afghan President Hamid Karzai went before Congress on Tuesday to thank the United States for its nearly three-year-long counterterror campaign in his country and asked for continued help. “I thank you and the people of this great country for your generosity and commitment to our people,“ Karzai said. “You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership in the world community and, most importantly, with the precious lives of your soldiers.“ In a 20- minute speech to members of the House and Senate gathered in the House chamber, Karzai, who was to meet President George W. Bush later on Tuesday said: “Afghanistan has emerged from a very dark era ... one of oppression and terror.“ The speech was interrupted by applause more than a dozen times. Since US, Afghan and other coalition forces ousted the repressive Taliban regime that harboured al-Qaida terrorists, international efforts have helped improve schools, health care and roads as well as start training a new national army. The country also is preparing for elections. But Karzai added that there is “a long road ahead.“ Karzai said that includes a free trade agreement between the two countries and incentives to the private sector for investing in Afghanistan. Karzai, who is president by vote of a loya jirga, or grand council, under traditional Afghan practice, is running for the presidency in the September election against a number of challengers. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
