Encounter with CNN at conclusion of International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan (unofficial transcript)

SG: I'm encouraged; it's gone very well. We got a decent level of contributions, but we need to analyze the results. There may be gaps in areas where we didn't do as well. And here, I am particularly thinking about recurrent costs for the government - how we pay salaries, we pay teachers, and sustain those payments over the year until they are off the ground and they are able to generate their own revenues to be able to cover the costs. But I am very encouraged, and I'm happy that so many people came - 60 countries and organizations - here to show solidarity and support for Afghan reconstruction.

And I think (Afghan Interim Administration Chairman Hamid) Karzai and his team must leave here determined to work with their own people to do their part because the international community has demonstrated from here that they are determined to follow through. What they do on the ground, how they organize themselves and structure their own leadership, is going to be extremely important for this partnership.

Q: Mr. Karzai said he was going to bring in outside international auditors, things like that. Are you worried that the funds will disappear once they enter Afghanistan?

SG: I think the comments from Karzai were very important, because he's, in effect, sending the message out that we want this money used wisely, effectively and efficiently and we do not intend to waste it. And we are prepared to bring in auditors and the staff required to ensure that we do it properly. And I think that was just the right approach and the right tone, and we will work with them on that basis.

Q: People see headlines - two billion dollars for Afghanistan, four billion - does this mean it's solved, Afghanistan?

SG: No, no, no, no. We are off to a good start but we have many hurdles ahead of us. We have questions of security to worry about. We have questions of getting the right type of people for the reconstruction, whether Afghan or from elsewhere. We have problems of the Afghans organizing themselves in such a way that the war lords do not get in the way. We need to bring down banditry. And so we have lots of hurdles ahead of us. We are by no means there. It's a long process but we've made a good start.

Q: So, but for better or for worse, this is in effect for the world nation building in Afghanistan.

SG: Oh, absolutely, whether we like the phrase or not.

Q: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.