in 2013 and the completion of the withdrawal of partners in 2014 so that afghanistan is no longer riverton on the shoulder of our friends in the international community -- is no longer a burden on the shoulder of our friends and allies. as you have very rightly put it, mr. president, afghanistan is looking forward to an end to this war and a transformational decade in which afghanistan will be looking forward to institutional building of an economy and we will be taking steady steps towards self- reliance in all aspects of life. afghanistan will be conducting its own reviews. in the meantime, the world community, and a particular -- in particular the u.s. and our nato partners, make sure they take a steady steps and have our back towards 2024. largely defending itself from others. mr. president, the partnership that we signed a few weeks ago in kabul has turned a new page in our relations. it is a page of two sovereign countries working together for the mutual interests, in security and in other areas. mr. president, i bring to you and the people of the united states the gratitude of the a