Arg, Kabul – His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, left for Dakar, Senegal, this morning to attend the 11^th Summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference will hold its 11^th summit on Thursday and Friday in Dakar, Senegal. The OIC leaders will discuss a modern charter that will give the Organisation of the Islamic Conference a more active and influential role in the world in the next decade.

President Hamid Karzai will address the summit on Afghanistan's progress and the challenges ahead. The President will take this opportunity to explain Afghanistan's position on issues of major importance to Muslims around the world and on the role of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

During the summit, President Hamid Karzai will meet with some heads of state to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations and the OIC agenda.

President Hamid Karzai is accompanied by Dr Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Zalmay Rasoul, National Security Advisor, Muhammad Kabir Farahi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Muhammad Umer Daudzai, Chief of Staff to the President, and Humayun Hamidzada, Spokesperson to the President.

For further information, please contact:

Office of the Spokesman to the President

Tel.:   + 93 797 163 355

         + 93 799 302 145

Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan