KABUL - Hikmet Cetin, NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, said on Wednesday that Turkish labor force made important business in Afghanistan and noted that he was ready to be a reference for Turkish businessmen to further improve this dynamism.
Cetin, who came to Kabul on Monday, told the A.A correspondent that holding meetings with high level Afghan officials, setting up dialogue with political and ethnic groups and bringing them together were among his duties in Afghanistan and said that he would also provide coordination by meeting with representatives of institutions like the United Nations.
Noting that Turkish labor force made important business in this country, Cetin said that Turkish people were dynamic and liked taking risks. ''Turkish businessmen have made about 400 million U.S. dollars of business in this country. I am ready to be a reference for Turkish businessmen,'' he underlined.
Cetin said that the United States and NATO undertook a difficult and important mission in Afghanistan against global terror threat, stating that NATO firstly wanted security and stability to be settled in Afghanistan. He added that NATO's aim was to form an Afghanistan in which all groups were represented by democratic elections and an Afghanistan whose integrity was protected and political unity was settled.
Upon a question on progress which NATO recorded in Afghanistan, Cetin said, ''NATO could not record sufficient progress in Afghanistan yet, but it could serve on military point. Thus, desired result could not be reached yet.''
''Civil issues have strong effect among things which will be made in Afghanistan. I will help effectiveness of central administration increase by determining coordination,'' he noted.
Stressing that technical and aid organizations could not come to the country due to continuation of terrorism, Cetin said that some terrorist organizations leaders and members of al-Qaida could not be captured yet and it caused continuation of terrorist actions.
Cetin said that holding presidential elections was a short term goal in Afghanistan and added that an election would be held in this country for the first time.
Cetin said that he talked to Afghan President Hamid Karzai during the ceremony for approval of new constitution and stated, ''I had a good meeting with Karzai. I conveyed President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's greetings to him.''
Cetin said that 2004 year would be a year when important steps would be taken in this country where reconstruction activities had been continuing since 2001.
(EÖ-AÖ) 28.01.2004