Afghan FM sees 2011 as important year for his country

According to Xinhua, Rassoul's statement came when he was speaking at an open Security Council meeting on the current situation in Afghanistan.

"Firstly, it marks ten years since the end of the rule of the Taliban, culminating in the opening of a new chapter in our modern history; defined by a concerted effort to achieve what has eluded us Afghans for far too long: peace, stability, and prosperity," he said. "Over the past decade, we have come a long way in our joint efforts, and have much to show for our progress: in building our state-institutions, in ensuring our people with essential services; in enabling democracy to take root; and in upholding fundamental rights of all our citizens."

Rassoul explained that Afghanistan is working on improving its economic development prospects.

"In this regard, we are determined to maximize the potential offered by our natural resources to strengthen our economy," he said. "Furthermore, we have prioritized attracting foreign investments and building our infrastructure."

Two upcoming conferences will provide an opportunity for Afghanistan to work on building peace and prosperity.

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