New Afghan President Hamid Karzai wrapped up a speech to the Loya Jirga assembly yesterday without naming a new Cabinet.
Karzai was speaking after days of speeches by Loya Jirga members, but gave no hint of the main business at hand -- his thoughts on a new parliament and a Cabinet lineup.
He did say he wanted to select the members of his own Cabinet, pledging it would be one that "meets the needs of the people."
PHOTO: REUTERS
He also said he would investigate reports of intimidation of delegates,
"I ask all brother delegates who have been threatened to report them to me and we will take action," he said to an absorbed full house. "Loya Jirga must move towards peace. Delegates must not be threatened. If I fail in this, then I do not deserve to be in my post."
He said he wanted a transparent and accountable government with public participation and that he wanted to set up a series of commissions and advisers to guide him through the 18-month transitional period until general elections are held.
"Afghanistan should move towards a pluralist government," Karzai said in Dari and Pashto, the two main languages. "Afghans should participate and share in government decisions and they have to be informed.
"We need a transparent and accountable government."
Karzai said he was aiming for a government that was not costly but effective.
"In this direction, I have decided to form a series of commissions to improve the affairs of the country," he said.
Among these were commissions on defense, national security and human rights. One commission would supervise foreign aid to ensure accountability and transparency, another would protect foreign investors and another would prevent human- rights violations, he said.
Karzai's comments came after the Loya Jirga spent two days unsuccessfully trying to pick a representative body for the nation.
He said the Loya Jirga's leadership did not realize it would be so difficult and time-consuming to fashion a new legislature and pick its members. The Loya Jirga started a day late and was still running a day after its scheduled Sunday culmination.
He said the grand council should name people to stay behind after it adjourns and choose a commission to establish the structure of the assembly. It was still unclear last night exactly when the council would wind up its work.
Karzai's decision to name his own Cabinet marked a step toward resolving an issue that worries many Afghans. The interim Cabinet is dominated by ethnic Tajiks from Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, and other groups -- especially the majority Pashtuns -- want to make sure they are not shunted aside in a new government.
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