Yes, thank you.
I am going to take this opportunity to reply to what Ms. St-Hilaire said when I was talking earlier about Mr. Manley's task force. She told me that the terms of reference had not changed. That is true, because the development and reconstruction mandate is the one ... Canada has committed to 2011 under the compact and other countries. Mr. Manley's terms of reference relate solely to the military mission that will end in February 2009, that will be debated in the House.
On the question of the meeting to be held on Thursday or Friday, I will be attending with Peter MacKay. We leave this evening. It is an important meeting concerning southern Afghanistan, and we will be there with the English and others.
Earlier you spoke about the Senlis Council. I want to make one point about that report. I would like to quote UNICEF Canada's President, Mr. Fisher:
Saying that more than half the country is controlled by Taliban is dismissed by everybody I've talked to so there's a general feeling that (the Senlis Council) have really not done a great service to Afghanistan by over-dramatizing the situation.
That is the end of the quotation.
Even President Karzai has stated doubts about that position.
Thank you.