By Sally Hodgson
Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Kabul

Kabul -- U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Robert P. Finn, in his first press conference with the Afghan media, said he believes remnants of the al Qaeda and Taliban will continue to try to create instability in the cities as they have done in some parts of the countryside but he does not believe they will be successful.

"I have spoken to many people in many different places and answer is the same everywhere I go," Ambassador Finn told the journalists April 15.

"[The Taliban and al Qaeda] sought to impose their own very extreme version of Islam on Afghanistan and took a nation hostage, and in addition they succeeded in destroying the social structure of the country -- they destroyed the schools, the hospitals, universities, so I don't think they will find much resonance with the people of Afghanistan," he said.

Finn said that the most important task before the coalition forces in Afghanistan is to prevent al Qaeda and Taliban remnants from destabilizing the country.

"The international coalition has not come to rule in Afghanistan but to help the Afghan people get rid of al Qaeda and the Taliban," said the ambassador. "That's why we're cooperating with the Interim Adminstration and the Loya Jirga [Grand Council] process so that you have a true interim government that will prepare the way for elections and you can run your own country."

An emergency Loya Jirga is scheduled to convene in June to name a temporary government to rule for two years. At the end of the temporary government's term, national elections will be held to form a permanent government.

The ambassador reiterated that the international community is delivering on its promises of assistance to the Afghan people. He urged Afghans to be patient and to understand that there is always a period between the time when assistance is promised and delivered.

Finn said that even though hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent, the needs in Afghanistan are so great that to some, that it may seem that not much is being done.

"I've had the unfortunate experience of being in situations like this before, and I can assure you that things are moving very quickly in Afghanistan," the ambassador said. "I took a trip to the Shomali plains last week, and everywhere I went I could see the people were back, they were trying to move into their homes, they were trying to restart their farms, and that's just one example."

"As you know, I don't have to tell you, there's a spirit of hope everywhere in the country. Everywhere I've been, the people are beginning to paint their houses, to repair their stores, so there's a real optimistic spirit in the country," said Finn.