Global powers need more mutual trust, Karzai says

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a gathering of government employees in Kabul September 23, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

As oil continues to play an important role in the world economy and all countries need it, Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, says he hopes oil prices will stabilize so that countries that need economic stability, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran, will achieve it.

Karzai was in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, this week for the 13th Eurasian Media Forum 2016. The forum, held Wednesday and Thursday, drew more than 400 delegates from more than 50 countries. Discussions included the present and future world economy, global crisis, oil countries and the situation in the Middle East.

Regarding oil, OPEC as a body needs to consider how to stabilize oil prices and how to continue to do so without causing trouble for other countries, yet also benefit from it, the former president said.

There are two global trends at the moment, Karzai said. One is hurting countries, while the other provides jobs, opportunities, progress and presents ideas for the futures, such as China's One Belt One Road Initiative.

"One is the extremism and radicalism impacting all of us today. It is no longer South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia; it is also now Paris and Brussels and the rest of the world, Africa as well," he said.

The other global trend is the power of rising economies and their increasing interactions with the United States and Europe.

He said that he hopes it is economic prosperity and cooperation with the West that will eventually be victorious. Karzai also said that he would like to advise the rising economic powers, such as China, India and Russia, and second-tier countries, such as Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan, to seek genuine cooperation with the US and Europe.

His experience in Afghanistan in the past 14 years had led to believe that the world is suffering because of a lack of trust between the major powers of the world, Karzai said. The only way for the world to have a secure future is for each side to make it better for the other and the rest of the world.

"I don't believe extremisms, radicalism and terrorism are only due to social conditions or religion. No, I believe, and with evidence, that radicalism and terrorism come from bad policies, a narrow definition of national interest, the pursuit of the perceived national interest, narrowly defined at any cost. So comes our sufferings, so comes the cost of the economy and especially life," Karzai said.

He said the world should work towards a greater understanding and be cooperative yet competitive in economic matters.