The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee on the 24^th of August hosted the seminar Afghanistan: Past and Present and opened a photo exhibition on Afghanistan and its cultural heritage. The exhibition can be viewed at the Norwegian Defense Museum until October 15^th.

The Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is visiting the Norwegian troops in Afghanistan. He will also be attending the Kabul Conference on July 20th 2010. The Minister stresses the importance of the Kabul Conference and states that it is important because it will be yet another step towards the Afghans fully gaining ownership and taking charge of their own security and development.

On Tuesday June 15th the Socialist Left Party (SV) arranged a seminar at the Norwegian Storting with the theme “Exit Afghanistan?”. The seminar had many prominent speakers, including Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and former UN Special Representative Kai Eide. The Afghan Ambassador to the Nordic countries, Manizah Bakhtari, spoke on Fighting for the Peace.

During the Spring Session of the NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly from 28th of May to 1st of June 2010, in Riga, the capital of Latvia,
the Latvian Transatlantic organisation held a general debate on 1st of June.

H.E. Abdul Rahim Wardak Minister of Defence of Afghanistan and Afghan Ambassador to Nordic countries Manizah Bakhtari, were representing Afghanistan. Defence ministers of Baltic countries were among the panellists.

Around 1,600 participants from across the country took part in the National Consultative Peace Jirga. During the three days event the attendees prepared and presented recommendations on how to move forward in the peace process. 

Press statement attributable to Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari.
Oslo, June 4th 2010

Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, has travelled to Afghanistan for discussions on the new European focus concerning the policy for the country's development. He visited different parts of Afghanistan during his trip, including a visit to the Northern city of Mazar-Sahrif where Sweden's Provincial Reconstruction Teams are based.

President Hamid Karzai met Saturday on 15 May 2010, with David Cameron, the new British Prime Minister in his country residence. Several issues including President Karzai’s successful US visit were discussed.

PM Cameron renewed his administration’s support for a stable Afghanistan and reaffirmed his country’s continued commitment for the people of Afghanistan.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, accompanied by senior-level delegations, convened wide-ranging discussions on May 11-12, 2010, aimed at deepening cooperation on the shared and mutual priorities of the United States and Afghanistan.  These discussions on governance, security, economic and social development, and regional issues built on past sessions of the United States – Afghanistan Strategic Dialogue.

President Hamid Karzai met Wednesday with the leaders of both Houses of the US Congress in Washington.

At a meeting with the Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnel and Majority Leader Harry Reid, several issues of mutual interest including expanding bilateral strategic relations were discussed.

 The President later met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and leader of the Republicans, Johan Boehner. Speaker Pelosi welcomed President Karzai to Congress and said she was pleased to see the President again in Washington.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Oslo will remain closed on Monday 22- March 2010, due to the Afghan New year Holidays.