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Editor:Afghan Embassy

Publisher:Afghan Embassy

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next month in Kabul will be em-ployed by the Kabul Municipali-ty in the sanitation, parks and works sector. According to the UNAMA representative, the em-ployees will be paid a little over $4 for a day's labor.-A 5th-6th C. A.D. historic site was discovered in Kabul prompt-ing Afghan Culture and Informa-tion Minister Makhdoom Raheen to lead a delegation to the once buried cave on Khawja Safa mountain.-Religious Scholars from across Afghanistan met with President Hamid Karzai in the Presidential Palace and declared their support for the general elections and the campaign against cultivation, production, processing and smuggling of narcotics.

(May 16) - India's National Bank opened its Kabul branch. Its ini-tial operation budget totals Afs. 250 million, or $5.2 million.

(May 15) - The Afghan Inde-pendent Human Rights Commis-sion opened its 9th provincial of-

fice in Maimana, capital of Faryab.

(May 14) - First major music concert took place at the Kabul stadium packed with 30,000 spectators and fans of famous Af-ghan singer Farhad Darya.

(May 13) - Rennovation of Kabul International Airport is now un-derway. NATO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Bank and the US will re-pave the runway, install new communications and meteorolog-ical equipment.

(May 11) - Afghan Wireless Co. expanded its network to include Parwan Province, north of Kabul. Afghan Wireless has so far in-vested $125 million in Afghani-stan.

(May 10) - The Evaluation Com-mission on the Candidacy of Af-ghan Women for the Nobel Prize convened its first meeting today. Chaired by Dr. Sima Samar, Head of the Independent Human

Rights Commission, the meeting distributed required forms and qualification conditions and se-lected 10 eligible women as can-didates.

(May 5) - In partnership with Eu-ropean IMG Bank, the Afghani-stan International Bank began its operation in Kabul. The initiative was launched by three Afghan businessmen and the ADB. -Kabul University's Department of Journalism launched its pilot radio broadcast, daily from noon to 2 pm on FM radio.

(May 3) - President Karzai wel-comed the split faction of Hezb-e-Islami (HIA) in Kabul. The delegation expressed cooperation with the State, leaving Hekma-tyar, its reclusive leader with lim-ited influence.

(April 24) - Protocol for coopera-tion between Afghan, Pakistani and Tajik Chambers of Com-merce was signed to encourage business and foreign direct in-vestment.

-USAID began an elementary ed-ucation programme for 10,000 remaining students in Kapisa province.-The Provincial Reconstruction Team launched a chapter in Za-bul province. Its first project will be to pave the 230-km long road

from Qalat to Spin Boldak.-The National Association of Af-ghanistan, a consortium of 42 oranizations, announced itself of-ficially as a political party. (23 April) -On the occasion commemorating Prophet Mo-

hammad's birth, President Karzai urged religious scholars to use their influence to put an end to forced marriages. -Rabia-Balkhi women's hospital started its endoscopic department in Kabul with a machine donated by a German professor.

Latest News Cont'd Afghan News News Cont'd

June 2004

In our next issue:

Interview with Madame Sadako Ogata, President of JICA and Prime Minister Koizumi's Special Envoy to Afghanistan