Foreign minister of the Afghan interim administration, Abdullah, said Thursday that the interim authority welcomed the return of ex-king Mohammad Zahir Shah as his presence is a push to the political process in Afghanistan.
"The former king of Afghanistan had been emphasizing that he would promote national unity, act as a fatherly figure promote stability in the country. And his presence would be a push to the political process, we welcome it (his return)," Abdullah told a press conference.
"Today is another momentous day, a moment of joy for the people of Afghanistan and a moment of achievement for the interim government of Afghanistan, a moment of fulfilling the promises which we have made to the people of Afghanistan that we would go to the path of national unity, integrity, stability, (of giving) the right of determination to the people of Afghanistan."
Abdullah said it was an emotional trip for the former king. He said the former king didn't fall asleep in his trip. When his plane was crossing the Uzbek-Afghan border, the former king couldn't turn his eyes from the mountains of Afghanistan. There were tears in his eyes when he touched Afghan soil.
The former king returned from Rome via Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Abdullah said Defense Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim's trip to France at the eve of the former king's return was previously planned and there was no political meaning whatsoever.
"It is a unanimous decision by the interim government. There wasn't any dispute at any stage about the return of the former king."
He said Fahim's trip actually had been postponed once because of previous plans of the return of the king.
General Fahim is an influential warlord in northern Afghanistan.
Abdullah said the former king is free to travel throughout the country if his health conditions permit. There would be lots of important persons visiting the former king from across the country.
On the issue of Afghanistan's return to monarchy, Abdullah said:"This should be left for the people of Afghanistan when we have a constitution. In constitutional debates, that could be one of the topics. There would be people who would like to return to monarchy;there would be people who would like to see other systems."
He said the interim administration might consult the former king on political issues since he was experienced.
The former king, 87, returned home on Thursday after nearly 30 years of exile in Italy. He is expected to open the emergency LoyaJirga on June 10.
The Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, is tasked with the selection of a transitional government to lead Afghanistan for 18 months till general elections. It was also tasked with the drawing up of a constitution.
(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2002)
