KABUL - Canada's new Ambassador to Afghanistan Glenn Davidson formally assumed charge on Saturday when he presented his credentials to President Hamid Karzai.
Succeeding William Crosbie, Davidson said: "For more than a decade, Canada has made enormous sacrifices to assist the Afghan people and we are continuing to do so."

A statement from the Canadian embassy in Kabul quoted Davidson as saying: "My top priority will be to ensure lasting results for the hard-won progress that we have collectively made in Afghanistan."
On May 21, Canada announced a financial contribution of $110 million per year over three years (2015-2017) toward helping sustain the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) following the end of its training mission in March 2014.

"We look forward to seeing the Afghan government assume greater responsibility for its security. We want to see lasting progress on improving governance, fighting corruption, and respecting human rights, particularly the rights of girls..."

In the coming weeks, the ambassador will be meeting senior officials and representatives of civil society to learn more about the key issues facing Afghanistan.
From September 2008 to March 2012, he served as ambassador of Canada to the Syria. Davidson was a career naval officer, retiring in 2008 as a vice-admiral.

He was the Canadian military representative to the NATO Military Committee in the permanent session at NATO headquarters in Brussels from 2004 to 2008 and commanded Canada's Maritime Forces Atlantic from 2002 to 2004.

His previous appointments include destroyer and squadron commands in the Pacific, Canadian forces attaché at the Canadian embassy in Tokyo, and head of personnel for the navy.
Davidson was appointed commander of the Order of Military Merit in 2002, and awarded an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law by the University of King's College in 2007. (Pajhwok)