UN envoy hails Afghan cabinet reshuffle

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-12 18:41

KABUL -- The top UN envoy to Afghanistan in a Sunday statement hailed the reshuffle of Afghan cabinet announced by Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday, saying the changes reflect "priorities" of the Afghan government and people.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks about overcoming his country's security problems at a forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, September 26, 2008. [Agencies]

The Afghan administration led by Karzai, besides reiterating resolution in fighting Taliban-led insurgents, pledged improved efforts in anti-drug and counter-corruption actions, in the Paris conference in June on Afghan issues, at which international community promised an additional 20 billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan.

"This reshuffle demonstrates political determination, the importance of implementing more rigorously the agenda set and agreed upon in Paris in June, with a team that can take these issues forward - particularly, the strengthening of the Afghan police and agricultural production," Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, said in a statement issued Sunday.

Afghan staff members for a voter registration centre work in Parwan province, north of Kabul, October 6, 2008. Afghanistan began registering voters on Monday for elections due next year that will test support for President Hamid Karzai and democracy itself which is threatened by a virulent Taliban insurgency in which thousands have died. [Agencies]

"I am fully committed to supporting this new Ministerial team and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months," he said.

President Karzai in a surprise move on Saturday replaced five ministers of the cabinet, Mohammad Asif Nang, the spokesman of ministry for parliamentary affairs said.

"The incumbent education minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar would replace Zarar Ahmad Muqbal, the serving minister for interior, and Muqbal would take over the affairs of the ministry for refugees and repatriation affairs," Nang told Xinhua.

The spokesperson said Farooq Wardak, the minister for parliamentary affairs, would be replaced by Kandahar province's former governor Assadullah Khalid, and Wardak would assume the office of education ministry.

He also added that Abidullah Ramin, the minister for agriculture, would be replaced by Asif Rahimi.

This move aimed to address mounting criticism from western officials and media on alleged corruption of local police and lack of governance capability of Afghan government, local media reports and analysts said.

The reshuffle in the cabinet took place just days after Afghanistan started voter registration process for the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2009.