WRAP Karzai and Abdullah comments, photo-op

Описание: (17 Apr 2002)

1. Exterior of Afghan embassy in Rome
2. Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai and foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah arriving at embassy
3. Various of Karzai and Abdullah talking to officials in embassy
4. Afghan flag on embassy wall
5. Karzai leaving embassy
6. SOUNDBITE: Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan Foreign minister:
"There have been some security incidents in the past few weeks Kabul and also outside Kabul, there is no doubt about it, but the overall the situation has improved since the establishment of interim government and as far as the security of the former King is concerned the forces of the interim government and the minister of security with the assistance of ISAF they have taken some measures added security measures and I am sure that those measures are satisfactory and enough in order to ensure the security of the former King of Afghanistan and his colleagues."
7. Karzai entering car to leave
8. Wide shot of senate building, the Palazzo Madama
9. Karzai meeting the President of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera
10. Various shots of Karzai and Pera meeting
11. Car arrives at Foreign Ministry building, Karzai gets out of car, greets Foreign Undersecretary Margherita Boniver and other officials
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, interim Afghan leader:
"It (the King's return) feels very good. It means Afghanistan is very peaceful, that all Afghans can go back to, and that the former king is going back after 30 years in exile is a great thing for him and for Afghanistan. Thank you"
13. Karzai walks away

STORYLINE:

Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai spoke in Rome at the Afghan embassy on Wednesday saying the imminent return of the former Afghan King Zaher Shah would bring stability and peace to Afghanistan.

Mohammad Zaher Shah, 87, is scheduled to return to Kabul on Thursday, accompanied by Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, three weeks after the U.S. and Italy postponed his initial departure date due to security concerns.

Zaher Shah has lived in Italy since 1973, when his cousin ousted him from power in a bloodless coup. Despite his three-decade exile, he is still seen as the only Afghan who can reconcile the country's ethnic and tribal factions after 23 years of war.

In June, the king is scheduled to convene a traditional tribal assembly, or loya jirga, that is to elect a transitional government to rule until elections.

Speaking to journalists at the embassy, Foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah said he was confident about the safety of the King in Afghanistan.

Earlier in the day Karzai met with Italian Senate President Marcello Pera and Margherita Boniver, the Italian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Afghan affairs.

On Wednesday afternoon Karzai is expected to meet the former king, Zaher Shah, at his villa on the outskirts of Rome before heading to the airport.

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