I.S.A.F. Commander General Zorlu Meets With General Dostum

KABUL (A.A) - 23.06.2002 - General Hilmi Akin Zorlu, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, met on Sunday with Uzbek General Abdul Rashid Dostum.
Holding press conference following the meeting, General Zorlu said that General Dostum fully supported the ISAF and the new government line-up announced by President Hamid Karzai even though it had not offered him a cabinet role.
''He expects that ISAF forces may go to other cities in Afghanistan, including Mazar-i- Sharif, in order to maintain security and help the people to reconstruct. He said he supports Karzai and the transitional authority and he's ready to support ISAF forces all the time,'' he said.
Zorlu said his impression was that there were fewer gunmen and tanks on the streets, the roads were busier and markets had reopened.
''People walking on the streets started smiling a little bit. It means they have started feeling secure in Kabul and surrounding areas. Kabul citizens have been happy with ISAF forces. This is very important,'' he added.