WASHINGTON (PAN): The rejection of most cabinet nominees by the Wolesi Jirga, a temporary setback to President Hamid Karzai, is a good for democracy in Afghanistan, the countrys top diplomat to the United States has said. "It may be a temporary setback for the president, but it's a step forward for the democracy in Afghanistan. I'm truly, truly happy with the parliament to do its job the way it is supposed to be doing," Ambassador Said T Jawad told a news channel here. "We are building institutions. We are building a state in Afghanistan. We have to keep focus on long-term prospects of democracy and pluralism in Afghanistan. We will have setbacks in our way forward, both for the president and for the parliament." He added: "But if you keep focus and have the institutions do their job the way they are supposed to be doing, the country will be better off." Jawad was surprised at the decision, because a number of ministers-designate rejected belonged to individuals or powerful factions with a strong presence in the parliament. "The message that the parliament is sending is that they would like to see qualified Afghans occupy these jobs." The ambassador continued: "Now, the president once again has a chance to introduce those who are considered to be better qualified to do the job," he said. At the same time, he explained, the key ministers in charge of security, defence, agriculture, education and finance have been approved. "So they will carry on their duties. As far as the other line ministries, these are more technical jobs that could be carried out by the vice ministers or deputy ministers," the envoy observed. "It is easy to come up with a very radical list, put it forward, but it will not be effective in Afghanistan, where we are building state institutions with the limited constraint that we face, as for the shortage of human capital, limited enforcement capability against undesirable elements. "So that all of that will be part of the equation that we will be dealing with in Afghanistan for many years to come," Jawad said. The ambassador said Afghans believed the parliament was serious about seeing reform being implemented in Afghanistan. "And I think this is the kind of message that they would like to hear," he concluded. mud