SPEAKER Karzai Says Stability, Unity Will Return By Arianne Aryanpur Hoya Staff Writer

Afghanistan’s Interim Authority Chairman Hamid Karzai encouraged approximately 2,000 Afghan-Americans to return to their homeland and help with its reconstruction in a speech Sunday at Georgetown’s McDonough Gymnasium.

“Among the people of Afghanistan . there is unity,” Karzai said to the enthusiastic crowd of mostly expatriates. “They are united everywhere in the country.”

To the younger Afghan guests looking to aid in the reconstruction of their homeland he said, “You are the future of our country so work hard, study well, make money and bring it to Afghanistan.”

Karzai’s address was the first public remarks during a three-day state visit to Washington, D.C. Karzai came to Georgetown in a motorcade after addressing Afghan-Americans and leading prayers at a mosque in Annandale, Va. Monday Karzai met with President Bush and oversaw the reopening of the Afghan embassy, which closed in 1996.

University President John J. DeGioia stressed the honor of Karzai choosing Georgetown as the first venue to address his people and university students, faculty and staff. The speech was intended to provide Karzai with an opportunity to discuss the importance of providing educational opportunities to the people of Afghanistan.

“I thought it was really important that we try to provide this venue,” DeGioia said. “[Karzai] is a man who is responsible for the reconstruction of a country that has been essentially, in one form or another, under the most difficult circumstances for more than 20 years.”

During his hour and a half long speech, Karzai switched between the two primary languages – Pashto and Farsi. Filled with personal anecdotes, his speech addressed his experiences in war torn Afghanistan and his ascension to a position of power.

Karzai assured the audience that although his country has undergone “many years of hardship, violence and poverty,” Afghans are a brave and courageous people.

“The thing that is most striking to me is that one in every four children is dead before the age of five [in Afghanistan] – that is just unbelievable,” DeGioia said, referring to the devastation left by years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, as well as regional droughts and famine. “The education system has crumbled and the university system has crumbled.” In his opening remarks, DeGioia highlighted a number of Georgetown scholarships intended to make educational opportunities available to Afghans. Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, the edical School and the Law Center, all stand ready to provide their expertise to the rebuilding of the nation, DeGioia said.

In addition to American aid, however, Karzai asserted that the support of educated Afghan-Americans is crucial as the country reconstructs its economic and educational systems after decades of corrupt rule and internal decline.

“Without your cooperation, we’re not going to make it,” he said to the crowd. Karzai encouraged young Afghans to return to their country – a land that he guaranteed is on the road to recovery.

“I promise that if there is cheating or corruption, I will stop it,” he assured, as attendees erupted in applause. “Your investments won’t be jeopardized,” he told the crowd, some of who waved small red, green and black Afghan flags.

“The good thing now is that Afghanistan is recognized as a free and independent country all over the world,” Karzai said to the rumbling of enthusiastic stomps in the bleachers.

During the ensuing question and answer session, Karzai addressed the possibility of dual-citizenship for Afghans, the rights of non-Muslims in his country and the possible improvement of Iranian-Afghan relations, among other topics. When the issue of women’s rights was brought up, Karzai told Vice Chair & inister for Women’s Affairs Sima Samar to take the stage.

“Let’s all try to give Afghan women a vote of participation,” she said to a standing ovation.

After the address, the Afghan-American guests, who received tickets through area mosques and community centers, mingled before piling back into 10 chartered buses and numerous cars that brought them from surrounding areas to Georgetown. Most of the guests said they enjoyed Karzai’s rousing address.

“[Karzai] has patience and humor and that is what the people need,” Saihar Karwan, a resident of Alexandria, Va., said. His sister, Sheila, agreed.

“[Karzai] was very inspiring,” she said. “He is down-to-earth and that is what Afghanistan needs.”

Omar Qargha, a volunteer for Help the Afghan Children in Vienna Va., said, “He did a good job of capturing the emotions of [Afghan] expatriates. Their main issue is unity and he touched on that.”

Others, however, were not as satisfied with Karzai’s remarks.

“[Karzai] did not say what we wanted to hear,” one woman said. “He didn’t talk about the future of the Taliban and how he will deal with them.” The woman, who had traveled by bus from Alexandria, wished to remain unidentified.

“When will the U.S. stop bombing us and how long will the U.S. help our government?” she asked.

Also at the address, DeGioia presented Karzai with the President’s Medal, recognizing the leader’s service. Established in 1968, the award has been granted most recently to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in November 2001.