Pelosi and Boehner Remarks Before Meeting with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner held a brief press availability this evening with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan prior to their meeting in the Capitol.  Below is a transcript of the press availability:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon.  It is a pleasure indeed and a privilege to welcome President Karzai back to the Capitol.  He has visited us on a number of occasions, and I had the privilege this past weekend to visit Afghanistan, to visit our troops, thank them for their sacrifice and their service—special emphasis on moms serving in Afghanistan on this Mother's Day.  

At that time, we had a constructive meeting with President Karzai, our delegation did, and it was in friendship and respect and with great candor.  And now we are very pleased to welcome him to Washington, D.C. and to note that the joint statement made by President Obama and President Karzai addressed some of the concerns that we discussed, we have been discussing over time, most recently this weekend.  In the joint statement, in addressing security, there was recognition by both countries that there was regional responsibility for security in Afghanistan and that both countries agree that Afghanistan would be assuming more responsibility for its security.  

In terms of the issue of corruption and accountability, both sides agreed that it was important to fight corruption.  In terms of governance, both sides agreed that we would all work together so that Afghanistan had the institutions necessary to meet the needs of the Afghan people.  On our visit, we spent time, and so does the joint statement, on electoral procedures and upcoming elections in Afghanistan.  And included in that process was the peace jirga that I am sure we are going to hear more about from the President.  We want to see many more women involved in building consensus in the jirga on how we go forward and possible reintegration or reconciliation.  

And so again, in friendship and candor, with great respect for President Karzai, I am very pleased to welcome him once again to the Capitol.  We will have a bipartisan leadership meeting, including some of the Chairs and Ranking Republicans on the committees, with the President.  We are all looking forward to that conversation.  

And now I am very pleased to yield to our Republican Leader in the Congress to welcome President Karzai.  

House Republican Leader John Boehner.  Well, thank you, Speaker Pelosi.  And we welcome you, Mr. President, to the Capitol.  

Our countries have a real partnership.  And I think need a real partnership to help bring security to the people of Afghanistan and to do everything we can to help strengthen the institution of government in Afghanistan.  So I look forward to a very productive conversation and look forward to ways that we can further our partnership together.  

Speaker Pelosi.  And recognizing that all of that is in our national security interest– protecting the American people.  President Karzai told us when we were there that there is a custom in Afghanistan to welcome, and to welcome, and to welcome, and to welcome. Again and again — maybe four times.  Please — I hope you feel very welcome, Mr. President.  

President Karzai.  Madam Speaker, honorable Congressman, it's yet again a great pleasure for me to be in Washington and to be in the House of Representatives and to have been welcomed so nicely by both of the leaders here.  

I had, since our arrival, a feeling of a very productive meeting, which actually is turning out to be.  As the honorable Speaker spoke, there are issues which we have discussed, all the issues that she mentioned, all the issues that we did discuss and did agree upon.  

One issue that I would like to emphasize, which is of concern to women here in America and to Madam Speaker, Madam Pelosi, is the added number of seats for women in the upcoming consultative peace jirga.  I assured Madam that we will elbow some of the men to make room for more women there.  On that assurance, Madam Speaker, I thank you once again, for the tremendous hospitality and indeed you did it in the Afghan manner of welcoming us many times over.

Thank you.

Speaker Pelosi.  Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you all.  

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SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House