Susan Rice urges Afghanistan's Karzai to sign accord
- 11 years ago
President Hamid Karzai met with U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice during her 3-day trip to Afghanistan.
Rice is urging Karzai to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement promptly, defining the terms for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan past 2014 when troops are set to withdraw.
But President Karzai has proposed new terms for a deal, even though an assembly of Afghan elders have endorsed the accord.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR FOR THE UNITED STATES; SAYING:
"For the American people who have invested so much in this partnership with Afghanistan that was very good news and we hope very much that the president will decide that it is in his best interest and interest of his country to conclude that Agreement."
The Afghan president said he would not sign the accord until after their country's presidential election in April.
Rice told Karzai it is - quote - "not viable" to wait until then.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSA
Rice is urging Karzai to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement promptly, defining the terms for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan past 2014 when troops are set to withdraw.
But President Karzai has proposed new terms for a deal, even though an assembly of Afghan elders have endorsed the accord.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR FOR THE UNITED STATES; SAYING:
"For the American people who have invested so much in this partnership with Afghanistan that was very good news and we hope very much that the president will decide that it is in his best interest and interest of his country to conclude that Agreement."
The Afghan president said he would not sign the accord until after their country's presidential election in April.
Rice told Karzai it is - quote - "not viable" to wait until then.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSA