Excerpt from Speech by United States Ambassador Dr. Zalmy Khalizad

American University of Afghanistan Groundbreaking Ceremony
21 March 2005

(The American University of Afghanistan is a) tangible evidence of the US commitment to establishing quality, American-style education in Afghanistan. It will be the first private university in Afghanistan, and will provide a model for the development of other private institutions of higher education. Support for the university is coming from USAID and from prominent businessmen; it thus represents a true public-private American-Afghan partnership. The university will operate under the authority of an elected board of trustees made up of distinguished Afghans and Americans. They have already selected an outstanding Afghan American educator, Dr. Sharif Fayez, to serve as President Pro Tempore? …Today, as we begin the Afghan New Year, we also celebrate this occasion with a  promise to the future leadership of this great country – The American University Afghanistan.