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Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Weapons collection ceremony to be held in Badakhshan

Kabul - 5 October 2006. On 9th October 2006, a weapons collection ceremony will take place in Faizabad. Ex-commanders Abdul Qadir, Niazi and Basir Halimyar from Darayum district will surrender 150 weapons to the DIAG* weapons collection teams in the weapons collection point of Faizabad. The ceremony will be attended by high level official from the provincial Government as well as representatives of the Afghanistan's New Beginnings Programme (ANBP), UNAMA, and the ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).

In another positive development, ex-commander Mohammed Taweel, recently appointed border police officer in Badakhshan, but initially from the district of Farkhar in Takhar province, has surrendered 28 weapons to the DIAG collection teams. Almost all of the ex-commanders of Farkhar district have now complied with DIAG and surrendered their weapons. As soon as leaders of the remaining illegal armed groups in the district hand over the rest of their weapons, a micro hydropower project, which has already been designed, will be launched in Farkhar for the benefit of the district communities.

ANBP highly welcomes this development. By voluntarily handing over their weapons and disbanding their groups, ex-commanders contribute to enhanced stability in their area, which results in a more secure environment thus allowing the launching of projects such as the micro hydropower plant in Farkhar district. These commanders should be praised for listening to the voice of the people, who after years of painful war want peace, stability, rule or law and prosperity.

Media interested in covering the event should contact the Public Information department of the Joint Secretariat or the Provincial DIAG coordinator of Badakhshan. Contacts below.

The DIAG process was launched on 11June, 2005 when officially announced by Vice President Khalili. By 25th September, 25,936 weapons, including 15,925 as well as 22,413 pieces of boxed and 229,303 pieces of unboxed ammunition have been handed over to and verified by ANBP collection teams in Afghanistan.

* Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups

Media Contact

Ariane Quentier - Joint Secretariat Communications Advisor, 070 166 911

Email: aquentier@anbpafg.org / arianequentier@yahoo.com

Ezatullah Shamszai - Joint Secretariat Public Information Officer, 070 602 504

Email: shamszai@anbpafg.org/ shamszai2005@hotmail.com

Ahmad Jan Nawzadi - Joint Secretariat Public Information Officer, 070 22 74 17

Email: anawzadi@anbpafg.org / ahmad_jan40@hotmail.com

In Badakhshan: Mohamed Daoud, 0799 23 40 15

Website: www.diag.gov.af