3.16.06 – Madam First Lady, Dr. Khaled Hosseini, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to our modest home. Most of you have done so much for my country, that I feel Afghanistan is your second home. Welcome to your home.

We are honored by the presence of all of you, especially Secretary Rumsfeld, Ambassador Karim Kawar, Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and General Peter Pace. I am delighted that Ms. Fawzia Karzai, Mr. Qayum Karzai, Mr. Mahmood Karzai, and Princess Yassamin Pahlawi have joined us.

I am privileged to share with you the message of gratitude of the Afghan people, Madam First Lady: “Thank you for helping us re-open our schools to our boys and girls. Thank you for helping us empower our girls to live up their dreams, and our boys to enjoy freedom and peace.”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My wife, Shamim, who works very hard for Afghan children and women, has given me three minutes for my remarks. Afghanistan has come a very long way in a very short time. To illustrate how far we have come, I would like to give you a snapshot of a meeting that took place 2 weeks ago in Kabul.

On March 1, 2006, Mrs. Laura Bush met our First Lady, Dr. Zeinat Karzai, in Arg Palace in Kabul. They sat down and over a cup of tea, discussed children and education in Afghanistan, while President Karzai, President Bush and the leadership of our new parliament were talking about the achievements of the U.S.-Afghan partnership.

Imagine, ladies and gentlemen, five years ago those two charming palaces were occupied by the Taliban and foreign terrorists, who were terrorizing our people and jeopardizing your security. They were depriving our girls from the basic right of going to school and denying our boys of the simple joy of flying a kite.

Five years later, Afghans are proudly comparing notes on freedom, democracy and education with their friends, and the story of an Afghan kite runner is an international best seller. For these first achievements we are grateful to President Krzai and President Bush; and for the second achievement we applaud Dr. Khaled Hosseini. Today, thanks to the courage and sacrifice of US soldiers, peace and prosperity are replacing terror and tyranny in Afghanistan. Afghans today enjoy more political, economic, and social rights than at any time in the history of our country. Among all the achievements, nothing is more beautiful than the sight of Afghan girls in their black and white uniforms, attending class under a tree in a small village. Next week, March 21, is the first day of spring and the first day of our new school year. Over six million children will be going to school, 34% are girls. It will be a beautiful and promising spring.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my honor to introduce a lady much admired and loved by people all over the world for her devotion to education, children and women rights.

The First Lady of the United States has been a longstanding friend of Afghanistan. She was with us even before the fall of the Taliban.

We do not forget, Madam First Lady, when you devoted your historic speech to Afghan women, in 2001. You were the first wife of a President to deliver the President’s weekly radio address. You chose to speak out on behalf of Afghan women suffering under Taliban.

We also remember March 31, 2005, when you sat down with Afghan girls in their newly-built dormitories, chatted with the street children, and visited a bakery in Kabul.

I think that you have said that you were inspired by your second grade teacher to become an educator. Well, Madam First Lady, you have inspired millions of Afghan women and children by your friendship and support, and with your support we make sure that schools are rebuilt and the quality of education is improved.

Ladies and gentlemen, the First Lady of the United States.