Prepared Remarks of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai Before Their Meeting

PREPARED REMARKS OF HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH) AND AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI BEFORE THEIR MEETING

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SPEAKER PELOSI: Good afternoon. It's my official and personal pleasure to welcome President Karzai to the Capitol.

His visit here comes at a very important time and our Members - among the House Democratic and Republican leaders - look forward to hearing his important message.

The relationship between the United States and Afghanistan began as one of importance to our country and it continues to be so. And so, the decisions that will be made shortly when we work on our supplemental appropriations package in the next couple of days and next week and decisions into the future need the best possible thinking and prospects for success.

And so, I welcome President Karzai in friendship - out of a sense of urgency as well. And again, on behalf of all of the Members of Congress, welcome him and look forward to hearing his words of wisdom.

With that I'd be pleased to yield to our Republican Leader, Mr. Boehner.

REP. BOEHNER: Well Madame Speaker, thank you. And it is my pleasure to also welcome President Karzai to the Capitol.

This is an important period in our relationship with the Afghan government and with President Karzai. And so, I'm looking forward to a conversation that can be very helpful in terms of our better understanding of what's happening on the ground in Afghanistan, what our plans are, and what President Karzai's plans are in terms of having to work together to bring more security and prosperity to the Afghan people.

SPEAKER PELOSI: Mr. President, welcome.

PRESIDENT KARZAI: Thank you. I'm honored to once again, to be received, Madam Speaker, by you and your colleagues here at the House of Representatives of the United States. This is not my first trip. This is God knows - my 10th, 11th, 12th trip. And in all these visits, I have been received with tremendous warmth and courtesy.

The Afghan people, with the journey that they began with the people of the United States - after the tragedy of September 11 - have really seen that this friendship pays off. They have seen that their lives have improved, they've seen that their children can go to school, they've seen that they can live better in all possible manners. They're grateful for the United States - for the support of the people of the United States.

Afghanistan will remain a steadfast ally in the war against terrorism and an ally and a grateful friend to the people of America.

We have issues to discuss - issues toward the future of Afghanistan, the success of our mission together, and issues toward an improved Afghan life for the men and women of our country, for which I once again express the gratitude of the Afghan people to our friends in the United States of America.

Thank you.

SPEAKER PELOSI: Thank you very much Mr. President. And now we will have a meeting with the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives - stressing the importance of the President's visit. Many of us have just recently been to Afghanistan, but this visit will give us an opportunity to follow up on issues that relate to the military, to governance, to a reconstruction in Afghanistan, and in regional participation to bring stability to the region.

Thank you all very much.

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