Meeting of Afghanistan Loya Jirga

Описание: (14 Dec 2003)

1. Various former Afghan monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah and President Hamid Karzai arrive
2. Various delegates
3. Various former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah and President Hamid Karzai standing for national anthem
4. Various children singing
5. SOUNDBITE (Dari) former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah:
"Respected representatives, people have trusted you and you do not forget them from now it is your duty and responsibility that without any fear to uphold the rights of the people. You must take the pressure with patience."
6. Various delegates

7. SOUNDBITE (Dari) President Hamid Karzai:
"Dear country fellows, the draft of the constitution, is very rich, with all the aspects of our history, our religion and our culture being covered in this draft. Also we considered in this draft all aspects of the international constitutions. The main points of this constitution are as follows."
8. Audience
9. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) President Hamid Karzai:
"Islam is the main base of this constitution, it's the base and inspiration of this constitution, the respect of the spirit of the freedom and holy war martyrs is also mentioned in this constitution, and in this constitution the family is the main base of this society."
10. Audience
11. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) President Hamid Karzai:
"The different committees of the constitution draft had lengthy discussions regarding whether the political system of Afghanistan should be parliamentary or presidential systems. We had one year discussions on it. We were also involved in these discussions Considering the current situation of the country and national benefits, we came to the conclusion that the best political system for the country is Islamic presidential republic system. Our reasons presenting this system are we do not have powerful national political parties in our countries."
12. Wide of Karzai at podium

STORYLINE:

A landmark constitutional convention began in Afghanistan on Sunday with solemn prayers, the hopeful songs of children and a stirring speech by the nation's former king, who echoed the aspirations of his war-weary countrymen with a call for unity and peace.

Some 500 delegates- from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles- were gathered at a huge tent in the battle-scarred capital, Kabul, to hammer out a new constitution in a traditional loya jirga, or grand council. Among the issues they were expected to spar over were the role of Afghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in a nation accustomed to fighting over it.

"The people are relying on you and you should not forget them," the 88-year-old former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah, told the assembly. "I hope you will try your best to maintain peace, stability and the unity of the Afghan people."

The loya jirga is a key step in the two-year drive to stabilize the country under an empowered central government, and is supposed to lead to landmark national elections slated for June.

The king spoke after a rendition of a traditional Afghan folk song by a group of young children, wearing Nike shirts under richly embroidered traditional vests, that brought several delegates to tears.

Security was extremely tight after warnings from the U.S. military that Taliban militants might try to attack the convention. Afghan soldiers lined the roads leading up to the meeting site, and everyone entering the tent - including the delegates - was patted down for weapons and explosives.


It could take 10 days to several weeks for the loya jirga, meeting at a Kabul college campus, to finalize a 160-article draft drawn up by a constitutional commission.



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