A Message from the Head of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan on the Emergency Loya Jerga 

Received May 19, 2002

The office of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate

A message from the head of the interim administration of Afghanistan concerning the convening of the Emergency Loya Jerga

Dear sisters and brothers, dear Afghans!

As you know, an emergency Loya Jerga of Afghanistan would be held in the near future. Members of the special commission for the convocation of the emergency Loya Jerga, inside and outside Afghanistan, are engaged in the election of Afghan delegates to the emergency Loya Jerga and the process of elections is speedily advancing. Almighty God willing, the representatives of the nation would soon arrive in the historical City of Kabul and the emergency Loya Jerga would be held at the appointed time.

Presently our nation, under the supervision of the members of the special commission for the convocation of the emergency Loya Jerga, is busy in the election of members to the historical Loya Jerga. On this occasion I ask my dear compatriots inside and outside the country to pay more and special attention to electing their representatives. They should elect the sorts of persons as their representatives who are loyal to Afghans and Afghanistan; who consider the interests of the country and its people higher than their personal and group interests; who have not been involved in the killing of the people of Afghanistan; who are not accused of having looted and plundered the public and private properties, and who only and only respect and love Afghanistan and the Afghans.

Dear compatriots!

It is possible that some elements, in order to safeguard their personal and group interests, may attempt to impose their will on the nation through resorting to force and paying bribes. But our compatriots should be vigilant and aware and should not surrender to the force and money of such elements. In cases and situations - where any one want to impose their will on the nation by the force of money and gun and are blocking the way to the election of true representatives of the people - the people should go to the Elections Supervision Commissions and the Special Commission for the Convocation of the Emergency Loya Jerga and, as live, vigilant and aware Afghans loyal to the interests of the country, block the way to every sort of abuse.

The Interim Administration of Afghanistan once again emphatically declares that this administration would not interfere in any manner whatsoever in the process of elections and in the election of members to the Emergency Loya Jerga. However, it is ready for every co-operation with the members of the Special Commission for the Convocation of the Emergency Loya Jerga towards improving its work or preventing abuses so that personalities manifesting the will of the nation would find their way to this national and historical Loya Jerga.

Dear compatriots!

Leaving aside the historical and ancient background of Jergas and Loya Jerga, the Loya Jerga institution in the course of the 300 years contemporary history of Afghanistan, has played a decisive role in the determination of the destiny of the Afghans and Afghanistan. It has played decisive role throughout the entire history in the solution of problems on the national and international level with which our country was faced.

Now that our country, Afghanistan, which is stepping towards peace and reconstruction after a 24-years period of war and destruction, is once again going to this ancient and national tradition of the Afghans. The Loya Jerga, which we have before us, is being convened under very difficult and emergency conditions and situations. And it is due to this reason that it has been called an emergency Loya Jerga. It is obvious from the name of this Loya Jerga as to what degree the situation in the country is complicated, difficult and complex, and is in need of very fast and emergency solution to it.

The convening of the emergency Loya Jerga in these critical and destiny-making moments in the history of the country puts very heavy national and historical responsibilities on the shoulders of the members of the emergency Loya Jerga. The nation's representatives must pay attention to all sensitivities and the delicate situation of this destiny-making phase in the history of the country. They should not forget the trust of their constituents. They should take part, with special devotion, in all meetings of the emergency Loya Jerga with the feeling of national responsibility, sympathy, faithfulness and deep love for the country and its people. They should approach the problems of Afghanistan with responsibility and prevent every sort of tension. In consideration of the present realities in our society, they should assess with sympathy all aspects of the question of Afghanistan and draw judgment on them in accordance with the dictates of their conscience. They should not go u! nder the influence of any person or any group and should as the true representatives of the nation make decisions, which would be the guarantor of peace, stability, happiness and prosperity for Afghanistan and the Afghans. And which would put an end to conflict, war and disquiet. They should elect a leadership for the happiness, reconstruction and prosperity of a future Afghanistan, which would be acceptable and trusted by the people of Afghanistan and which would have the capability of solving the present problems of Afghanistan.

I pray to Almighty God to give the strength to our people that the emergency Loya Jerga would be convened at the appointed time and would successfully end in an healthy atmosphere of brotherhood and equality, peace and understanding. And I pray that its gains would bring the gift of happiness, prosperity, peace and stability to the country and spread unity and cohesion among the Afghans.

[Signed]: Success comes from God.

Hamed Karzai,

Head of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan.