Official visit to Norway by the President of Afghanistan, Mr Hamid Karzai, on 16 and 17 December 2002 – Annual Meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group on 17-18 December
Historical archive
Published under: Bondevik's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
News story | Date: 16/12/2002 | Last updated: 21/10/2006
Press Guidance
Date: 16 December 2002
Official visit to Norway by the President of Afghanistan, Mr Hamid Karzai, on 16 and 17 December 2002 – Annual Meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group on 17-18 December
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been invited to pay an official visit to Norway on 16 and 17 December. His programme will include meetings with King Harald V, President of the Storting Jørgen Kosmo and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. Together with Foreign Minister Jan Petersen he will also open the annual meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group (ASG), which is currently chaired by Norway.
President Karzai will arrive at Gardermoen Airport, at the GA terminal, at about 18.00 on Sunday 15 December, and will be met by Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson. He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Minister of Women’s Affairs Habiba Sarabi.
Monday 16 December
10.00-10.40 | President Karzai meets with Foreign Minister Jan Petersen at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica (NB! The Notes for Editors issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday 13 December state that there will be a short meeting with the press. This has been moved to the Government Guest House at 14.45.) |
10.45-11.25 | President Karzai meets with Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson |
12.00-12.45 | President Karzai meets with Defence Minister Kristin Krohn Devold |
12.00-12.45 | Meeting between Minister of Women’s Affairs Habiba Sarabi and Minister of Children and Family Affairs Laila Dåvøy, Akersgt 59, R5. 13.00-13.20 the Women’s Affairs Minister will visit the exhibition "Kulturglimt fra Afghanistan" in the Oslo City Hall. |
12.45-13.15 | Meeting between Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss, Akersgt 40, building G |
13.30-14.45 | Jan Petersen hosts a lunch at the Government Guest House, Parkveien 45 Foreign Minister |
14.45 | President Karzai and Foreign Minister Petersen have short meeting with the press at the Government Guest House |
15.45-16.45 | President Karzai meets representatives of the Norwegian business sector (arranged by the Norwegian Trade Council) at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica |
17.00-18.00 | President Karzai meets Afghans in exile at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica |
19.30 | Prime Minister Bondevik hosts a dinner at Akershus Castle |
. | Press pool, see separate information from the Office of the Prime Minister |
Tuesday 17 December
08.30 | President Karzai leaves Holmenkollen, with a brief stop at the ski jump |
09.05-09.40 | Visit to the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy |
10.00-10.45 | Political talks between President Karzai and Prime Minister Bondevik, who is hosting the visit |
. | Photo opportunity at the beginning of the talks |
10.45-11.05 | Press conference in the reception area on the ground floor of building H (høyblokken) in the Government Office Complex |
11.15 | Meeting at the Storting with President of the Storting Kosmo |
11.35-12.30 | Meeting with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Standing Committee on Defence |
12.45 | His Majesty The King receives President Karzai at the Royal Palace for an audience, followed by a luncheon |
15.00 | President Karzai opens the meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group, which is being held at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica |
Programme for the ASG meeting
On Tuesday 17 December the whole meeting is open to the press
15:00 | Opening of the ASG Annual Meeting |
Introduction by Mr. Jan Petersen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway | |
Opening statement by H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan | |
Address on behalf of the UN Secretary General by SRSG Lakhdar Brahimi | |
15: 30 | Afghanistan: The way ahead |
Introductions by Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, Minister for Women's Affairs Dr. Habiba Surabi, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Mohammed Haneef Atmar. | |
Presentation of progress to date and targets for reform | |
Humanitarian assistance and social policy | |
Good governance, gender equality and human rights within the national development framework | |
Presentation of the National Development Budget, priority projects and financial requirements | |
16:45 | Coffee break |
17:00 | Launching of the Transitional Assistance Program for Afghanistan (TAPA) |
Introduction by USG Kenzo Oshima | |
Presentation of the TAPA by DSRSG Nigel Fisher and Minister of Rural | |
Rehabilitation and Development Mr. Haneef Atmar | |
Strategic goals, priority areas, financial requirements, Implementation, including Government, UN and NGO partnership. | |
Separate interviews in connection with the launch of the TAPA can be arranged through the press contacts | |
. | . |
17:30 | Introductions by |
HCR Ruud Lubbers, UNHCR | |
Executive Director Carol Bellamy, UNICEF | |
Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO | |
UNDP | |
18:00 | Statements on political and financial support from the international community. |
19:00 | End of session. |
20:00 | Dinner hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jan Petersen |
Wednesday 18 December (ASG meeting continues, closed to the press)
12:30 | Final press conference with Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and State Secretary Vidar Helgesen |
Press contacts | Birgitte Hygen tlf. 92 26 28 43 |
. | Benedicte Tresselt Koren tlf. 90 02 93 95 |
. | Elisabeth Salvesen tlf. 95 94 10 83 |