Sarkozy Assures France’s ‘Full Backing’ to Karzai Administration

After declaration of Hamid Karazai as elected President of Afghanistan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, while congratulating him on his election, has assured France’s ‘full backing’ to his administration.

“You have managed since the first round to get the most support from the Afghan people,” Sarkozy said in a letter released by his office.

“You must move forward…” he said, adding: “France will remain at the side of the Afghan people as long as necessary… I assure you of the full backing of France to the efforts that your government and you are undertaking.”

At the same time, Sarkozy hailed opposition candidate Dr Abdullah Abdullah’s decision to opt out of the presidential poll second round as “dignified retreat”.

It may be mentioned that Karzai was Tuesday declared the winner of the presidential poll by the Afghan election commission after Abdullah pulled out of the run-off. Abdullah had alleged massive fraud in the first round.