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Afghan parliament members hold copies of the holy book Quran during their swearing-in ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 19, 2005.
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19 December 2005
President Bush Congratulates Afghan People on National Assembly, December 19, 2005 (Calls opening "another milestone in Afghanistan's historic transition")
President Bush congratulated the Afghan people December 19 on the inauguration of their new national assembly, calling the event another milestone in Afghanistan's road to becoming a stable and democratic state.
For additional information, see Democratic Afghanistan.
Following is the text of the president's statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 19, 2005
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I congratulate the Afghan people on the inauguration of the new Afghan national assembly. Today is another milestone in Afghanistan's historic transition to a stable and democratic state governed by the rule of law. A freely and fairly elected legislature plays a vital role in the life of a representative democracy. I applaud the members of the national assembly on their service to their country and support their efforts, with President Karzai and his government, to improve the lives of the Afghan people.
(end text)
