LONDON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai a warm conversation in several media in the UK. Because the cost of lodging this Afghan leader for two nights at the Hotel Claridge, England, taxpayer financed in the UK.
Lodging cost of 53,000 pounds or approximately Rp1 billion has been entered into the taxpayer's account when the official visit of President Hamid Karzai to London, England.
The rooms at this five-star hotel reaches approximately 7,000 pounds, or Rp138 million per night. The celebrities and the elite in Britain used to stay at the Hotel Claridge.
According to a report in The Sunday Express that the 40 delegates from Afghanistan stayed at the Hotel Claridge in February.
British taxpayers have to pay the cost of lodging for 12 people and the Afghan government to pay for 28 other people.
Some guests from Pakistan, led by President Asif Ali Zardari, staying at the Hotel Berkeley in Kensington, England. Where a bill is believed to have reached 10 thousand pounds sterling, or approximately Rp197 million.
Payment of the cost of staying the delegates is revealed in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said that the cost of the taxpayer it is for Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his delegation while attending a trilateral summit between Britain, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Summit (Summit) is aimed at the advancement and strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, support the Afghan peace process, and to promote peace and stability in the region.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, Monday (08/04/2014), chairman of the taxpayer organization Alliance, Jonathan Isaby, saying that taxpayers should not have to pay a fee charged to guests lodging countries.
"The visit abroad is part of international diplomacy but the British taxpayer should not write a blank check to finance their luxurious lodging," said Isaby.
