SG: Thank you, Mr. President. Salam Alaikum. Tashakor. Ladies and gentlemen of the media.

I am glad to be here for today's conference on Afghanistan. And I thank and I appreciate the leadership of President Karzai and the commitment for peace and security, development, and human rights of Afghanistan under the leadership of President Karzai.

I am honoured that the United Nations has served as co-host together with the Afghan

Government. This conference marks the beginning of a crucially important transition. As agreed at the London Conference earlier this year, in January of this year, and again here in Kabul, Afghanistan will now take the lead in shaping the country's future. Afghans will set the priorities and decide which path to follow. The international community will play a supporting role.

It is thus symbolic that today's event is the first international conference on Afghanistan to be Afghan-led and held in the country itself.

The Afghan Government presented 23 priority national programmes in the key areas of peace and security, governance and development. President Karzai and his Government have renewed their commitment to deliver real meaningful improvements for the country's people.

The international community has agreed to realign its efforts behind those Afghan priorities. We have also reaffirmed our long-time commitment to Afghanistan's wellbeing.

I am encouraged by today's results. I have urged all partners to make good on their pledges. The United Nations will do its part. The people of Afghanistan have suffered greatly for many years. They continue to want only what people everywhere want: jobs, shelter, education and health, their fundamental human rights, safety for their children, the hope of a better future for all.

With the steps taken today, Afghans have a better chance to gain a more secure foothold on that path. With them in the lead, and with the right support from the international community, I am convinced we can succeed.

Thank you very much.

Q: My question to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is: what are the assurances that the commitments of the international community at the Kabul Conference will be implemented?

SG: About the commitments, commitments are mutual. On the part of the international community -- we committed that we will continue to provide necessary support, political support, socio-economic development support and also military support to ensure peace and security here. And we also committed that while the Afghan Government will gradually take a greater role and more of an ownership role in transitioning in this period, we will align with national governmental priorities in all aspects, and we will continue to provide long-term and sustainable support to help strengthen the capacity of the Afghan people and Government. We hope, on the Millennium Development Goals, that the Afghan Government will also be able to reach these Goals.

In the commitments on the Afghan Government side, President Karzai has rightly explained. The international community would expect and strongly encourage that President Karzai and his Cabinet will enhance good governance, and address all the socio-economic problems, irregularities, and make reform: socio-economic reform and security reform. There is a good plan by the Ministry of Interior that they will strengthen the national police capacity and also be able to help the national forces of Afghanistan to strengthen their capacity.

So these commitments are mutual, and we have agreed that under this commitment and the Communiqué we will continue to work. Now, I am quite convinced that while this transition is made toward a gradual transition [to] greater responsibility [by] Afghanistan, I am sure that the Afghan Government and people will be able to enjoy freedom, human rights and prosperity.

Q: My first question will be to the Secretary-General about the accusation from foreign countries to the Afghan Government on corruption. It is in a time in which more than 70 percent of the money since 2001 which came to Afghanistan is spent by international donors or by international organizations. As United Nations Secretary-General, can you promise to the people of Afghanistan that you would launch, the way that President Karzai launched an investigation to Afghan officials, an investigation into foreign officials, into where is the money now?

SG: The first question is the very important area of good governance. We are concerned there is a prevalence of corrupt practices all throughout the country. The international community naturally expects that while the international community will continue to provide socio-economic and financial support, this money should be properly used for good purposes, planned purposes. This is what I have been discussing with President

Karzai and this is what world leaders are expecting, that President Karzai and his Cabinet

Ministers should be fully committed. I am encouraged that President Karzai has stated this morning in his opening remarks that he is committed to reform of the judiciary and investigative sectors. Also we want to see the coming parliamentary election on 18 September to be a transparent, democratic and credible one, without any irregularities. That is the best way for the Afghan Government to gain confidence and trust from the international community, so that their support can flow continuously. Thank you very much.

Q: Mr Secretary-General, can you elaborate on my colleague's question here: when it comes to the international community, the Afghan Government has now been taking steps to fight corruption, to bring those who are accused of corruption to justice. What's going to happen to those in the international community? Will there be investigations into them, as well?

SG: On your second question, I believe that each corruption case should be, properly and in a transparent way, investigated by Afghan Government authorities. At the same time, I am also concerned that not many corruption cases have been properly and thoroughly investigated. That is what President Karzai has committed to, to continue to strengthen the capacity and change all these judiciary systems. It would be much more important to prevent such corrupt practices and also create an environment conducive to prevent [corruption] and not to give any such temptations on the part of the business sector or government officials to engage in such corruptive activities. For that to be possible, first of all, we expect the Afghan Government should have institutional reforms and strengthen judicial procedures and provide jobs and to revitalize the economy. That is what the international community is now looking more towards.

When the people are given incentives to engage in proper jobs, when they are educated and institutions are strengthened, there is not much room for international corruption to be practiced here. I sincerely hope that international donors and international partners will also take this matter very seriously. They should be able to give aid in an effective way; there should be aid effectiveness, and a transparent manner. By making every procedure in a transparent way, we are able to get rid of all such possibilities.