Atmar, Taalas talk peace, Geneva moot

KABUL Ambassador Janne Taalas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoF) said Atmar commended the Finnish government for organising the Geneva Conference and supporting the Afghan Peace Process.

Atmar also discussed the recent state visit by President Ashraf Ghani and senior Afghan government officials to Doha.

The objective behind the visit was to strengthen the Afghan peace process and boost bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Qatar, he added.

To promote the peace process, according to the minister, the Ashraf Ghani administration is pursuing three main objectives.

The aims are overcoming hurdles to rules for kick-starting talks on the peace agenda including a ceasefire, establishing a mechanism to reduce violence and laying the groundwork for a comprehensive agreement leading to lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Finland’s special envoy affirmed support for the peace process and achievements of the last 19 years in Afghanistan,

The diplomat voiced Finland’s readiness to organise the Geneva Conference ‪on November 23 and 24.

Taalas added he had contacted all donor countries, and they were ready to attend the conference following deliberations on financial assistance.

Conference organisers have been working on a financial assistance programme for the next four years for Afghanistan. Donor will announce the timing of their commitments at the conference.

Both sides exchanged views on the participation of Afghan delegations, different countries and donor organisations in the Geneva Conference.

They also conferred on the impact of the peace talks on the event and related technical preparations, considering the COVID-19 challenge.

pk/mud