Obama, Kerry Praise Signing of Bilateral Security Agreement

State Department photo/ Public Domain / Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday praised the long-awaited signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement allowing U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan past the end of 2014.

In a statement, the president called the signing “a historic day in the U.S.-Afghan partnership,” noting the opportunity to “advance our shared interests and the long-term security of Afghanistan.”

Obama had hoped an agreement would be signed since last year. The then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai declined to sign the agreement, and for months, the Obama administration was hopeful that following the recent Afghan presidential election — and the ensuing audit of votes — the new leader would agree to the deal.

The agreement gives U.S. forces and forces from partner countries the legal protection necessary to carry out the NATO Resolute Support mission after the International Security and Assistance Force mission ends at the end of the year.

Kerry echoed the praise offered by President Obama, calling the signing of the BSA “a milestone moment” that “sends a long-awaited and unequivocal message that the United States and Afghanistan are determined not just to sustain, but to build on more than a decade of progress.”

“The gains of the past decade have been won with blood and treasure,” Kerry said. “They must not be lost, and we all have a stake in ensuring they’re a foundation upon which to build.”

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