This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/afghanistans-new-president-hold-me-accountable/2014/09/29/0f229a14-47c0-11e4-b72e-d60a9229cc10_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Afghanistan’s new president: ‘Hold me accountable’ Ghani, Abdullah sworn in as part of Afghanistan’s power-sharing arrangement
(about 9 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan – After months of political tensions, Afghanistan’s new president, Ashraf Ghani, took the oath of office Monday to lead a US-brokered coalition government that marked the first democratic transfer of power in the nation’s history. KABUL — They both have advanced degrees, but they come from different worlds. Ashraf Ghani, who earned a doctorate from Columbia University, is a former academic and World Bank official. Abdullah Abdullah, who earned a medical degree from Kabul University, is a former resistance figure who fought against the Soviet occupation and the Taliban.
The ceremony also marked the beginning of a power-sharing pact between Ghani and his chief rival, who have been at odds over a dispute election that threatened to split Afghanistan’s ethnic groups and trigger violence. On Monday, after months of political tensions, the unlikely pair took their oaths of office to lead a U.S.-brokered coalition government in Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power. Ghani became the country’s new president. He then swore in Abdullah as his chief executive.
Both Ghani and his opponent Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory in the vote held to succeed President Hamid Karzai, who came to power after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 brought down Taliban rule. Ghani and Abdullah relented only after the United States stepped in to carve out a compromise deal. Only a few weeks ago, Ghani and Abdullah were at odds over an election that threatened to split Afghanistan’s ethnic groups and trigger violence. Both claimed victory in the vote held to succeed President Hamid Karzai, who came to power after U.S.-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in 2001. The two rivals relented only after the United States stepped in to carve out a compromise deal.
After he took the presidential oath Monday, Ghani kept his pledge and swore in Abdullah as his chief executive. Now, many Afghans and Western diplomats hope that the two can set aside their differences and address their nation’s numerous challenges, including rampant corruption, high unemployment and growing security threats.
“I am your leader, but I am not better than you. If I make mistakes, hold me accountable,” Ghani told hundreds of dignitaries gathered to witness the inauguration. Ghani and Abdullah are taking charge as most foreign troops are scheduled to withdraw by year’s end and the Taliban is resurging in many areas of the country. Afghanistan’s central government is also nearly broke and can barely pay the salaries of its federal and provincial employees.
The new unity government is inheriting an Afghanistan rife with immense challenges. Most foreign troops are scheduled to withdraw by year’s end and the Taliban Islamist movement is mounting a resurgence in many areas of the country. “These two guys with different philosophies and ideas, and coming from different regions, ethnic and educational backgrounds, do not seem like they will merge easily,” said Farouq Bashar, a political analyst and lawyer. “These two may not easily accept candidates for government positions from each side. Everyone has their own commitment to their followers.”
To underscore the security woes, a suicide bomber detonated himself near an Afghan security checkpoint near Kabul airport Monday morning, just as the ceremony began. Four security forces were killed and three civilians were wounded, said Seddiq Seddiqe, an Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman. At Monday’s inauguration ceremony at the presidential palace in central Kabul, Ghani and Abdullah promised to work together for Afghanistan’s progress. In the audience were hundreds of dignitaries from 34 countries, as well as the United Nations and the European Union. John Podesta, a senior adviser to President Obama, led the U.S. delegation, which included Ambassador James B. Cunningham and other senior officials.
In eastern Afghanistan, a car bomb exploded near the compound of a local official in a district of Paktia province. The attack triggered a gunbattle between Afghan army and police units and the militants, said Maj. Gen. Sharif Yaftali, an Afghan army commander in the area. Three Afghan policemen were killed, as were all four of the assailants, he added. “I am your leader, but I am not better than you. If I make mistakes, hold me accountable,” Ghani said in his address.
In his address, Ghani called upon the Taliban and another armed faction, Hezb-e-Islami, to enter “a political negotiation” with the new government, saying that “we are tired of fighting and our message is peace, but this does not mean we are weak.” “Our commitment will be fulfilled together as a unified team to create national unity,” Abdullah said in his address.
A Taliban spokesman Monday rejected such an overture, saying that they do not recognize Ghani as the country’s new president. Just as the ceremony began, a suicide bomber struck near a checkpoint close to the Kabul airport, underscoring Afghanistan’s security woes. Four security personnel and three civilians were killed, said Seddiq Seddiqi, an Interior Ministry spokesman.
“The president inauguration has no meaning to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman in a phone interview, using the Taliban’s name for the country. “It is the project of the United States.” In his address, Ghani called upon the Taliban and another armed faction, Hezb-i-Islami, to enter “a political negotiation” with the new government, saying that “we are tired of fighting and our message is peace, but this does not mean we are weak.”
Mujahid also claimed Taliban responsibility for the suicide attack near the airport, declaring that the target was Afghan and foreign soldiers. A Taliban spokesman rejected the overture, saying the group does not recognize Ghani as the new president.
Monday’s inauguration also marked the end of Karzai’s presidency — in place since the fall of Taliban rule that provided a safe haven for Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. “The presidential inauguration has no meaning to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman, said in a phone interview, using the Taliban’s name for the country. “It is the project of the United States.”
In his final speech as president, Karzai told the audience that he would support Ghani and Abdullah and that he would be “at their service.” Monday’s inauguration also marked the end of Karzai’s long presidency. In his final speech as president, Karzai told the audience that he would support Ghani and Abdullah and that he would be “at their service.”
“Our journey in the past 13 years has been full of ups and downs. I am proud to handover responsibilities to the president-elect in a peaceful process,” Karzai said. “Afghanistan is off on a good journey. And I will continue to be part of this journey. Long live Afghanistan. Long live our proud nation.” Despite their promises of working together, lingering tensions between the two leaders were apparent. Abdullah nearly boycotted the inauguration over a dispute about office space and whether he would be allowed to address the dignitaries, an aide said. Cunningham helped end the squabble.
Amid heavy security, the ceremony took place at the presidential palace compound in the center of the capital. It was attended by dignitaries from 34 nations, as well as the United Nations and the European Union. Senior officials from neighboring Pakistan and Iran — both have tense relationships with Afghanistan — also attended. At a news conference after the ceremony, Podesta called the inauguration “a momentous day for the Afghan people” and said Ghani and Abdullah are “seasoned leaders” with the “will and capacity to work together.” He played down the disputes that unfolded the night before the inauguration.
John Podesta, a senior adviser to President Obama, led the U.S. delegation, which included U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, James B. Cunningham, and other senior US officials. “The most important thing is that President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah resolved their problems,” Podesta said. “Are there remaining tensions? Are there going to be remaining issues? One would be surprised if there weren’t. But I think they both have the commitment to work those things out, to build a structure where they could collaborate.”
On the streets of Kabul, Afghans sat in cafes and restaurants watching the inauguration which was televised nationally. Many expressed optimism that the new government could solve the myriad of challenges facing the country. On one front at least, Ghani and Abdullah appear unified: the relationship with the United States. A representative of the new unity government, Cunningham said, is expected to sign a bilateral security agreement on Tuesday that would allow about 10,000 U.S. troops to remain in the country after 2014 to train and advise Afghan security forces. Karzai had refused to sign the pact, further souring ties with Washington. But Ghani and Abdullah have said publicly that they would endorse the agreement swiftly.
“Dr. Ghani has a clean past and he is well educated,” said Ahmad Mubashir, 33, a shopkeeper. “The roots of all problems that Afghans face is economic hardship, and I think he is the guy who has the ability to solve this problem. Once he solves the economic problems, definitely security will be improved. “ “The U.S. government has a solid relationship with both President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah, forged over a long period of time,” Podesta said. “Both recognize the commitments, both financially [and] particularly the sacrifices that U.S. personnel have paid here in Afghanistan.”
Sharif Hassan contributed to this report from Kabul. “We’ve turned a page,” he added, referring to the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan.
On the streets of Kabul, residents in cafes and restaurants watched the inauguration, which was televised nationally. Many expressed optimism that the new government could solve the challenges facing the country.
“Dr. Ghani has a clean past, and he is well educated,” said Ahmad Mubashir, 33, a shopkeeper. “The root of all problems that Afghans face is economic hardship, and I think he is the guy who has the ability to solve this problem. Once he solves the economic problems, definitely security will improve.”
Sharif Hassan contributed to this report.