Karzai inaugurates work on U.S.-sponsored university as Afghans mark new year

Tuesday March 22, 2005 (1545 PST)

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KABUL: President Hamid Karzai on Monday inaugurated the construction of a U.S.-sponsored university as Afghanistan celebrated the beginning of a new year.

The private American University of Afghanistan is to open in 2006, providing courses for 1,100 undergraduates in subjects including management, communications, and liberal arts. All courses are to be taught in English.

Karzai and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad shoveled earth into the foundations at a site off the Darulaman Road in west Kabul, surrounded by ruined buildings left over from Afghanistan's long wars.

U.S. army engineers have already begun building a perimeter wall.

Karzai thanked the United States, Afghanistan's main donor, and urged his country to emulate nations such as South Korea which he said owed their development to education.

"They had experts, but Afghanistan does not," Karzai said. "We should understand the value of this university.

"Unless this country, this people has its own doctors, diplomats or engineers, it cannot develop."

The U.S. Agency for International Development said it would provide an undisclosed sum toward startup and initial operating costs. Private donors including an Afghan mobile phone company are also involved.

The courses are to be open to students from Afghanistan and the region, the agency said. Extra English tuition will also be provided to help students prepare for classes.

Earlier, Karzai planted a tree to promote a reforestation drive and watched a parade in Kabul's main sports stadium, including a band from the country's new army, sports teams and a group of farmers from north of Kabul, an area devastated during Afghanistan's long wars.

Thousands of Afghans also visited shrines and family graves on the first day of the Afghan year 1384, while children took part in kite-fighting competitions.

The day appeared to have passed peacefully, despite intelligence reports suggesting militants planned to attack festivities.

However, there was a reminder of the country's brutal past and enduring dangers when one young man stepped on a land mine on a hill in Kabul, losing both of his feet.