Geneva conference on Afghanistan gets underway

KABUL (Pajhwok): The two-day Geneva conference on Afghanistan kicked off on Monday, with representatives from around 100 countries and international organizations in attendance.

Shamroz Khan Masjidi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance who is also attending the conference, told Pajhwok Afghan News ministers from around 70 countries and international donors are attending the two-day virtual conference.

Abdul Habib Zadran, the deputy finance minister, in a video message from Geneva said in previous years there had been a commitment from donor countries that 50 percent of the aid would be spent through the Afghanistan national budget.

The pledging ministerial conference is co-hosted by Afghanistan, Finland and the United Nations. The mega even is taking place virtually.

Geneva would remain the hub for all logistics and conference proceedings would be webcast live on UNWebTV.

An Afghan government delegation, led by Finance Minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, is also in Geneva.

The government in Kabul expects the international community will renew its financial and political commitments to Afghanistan for another four years.

Presidential spokesman SediqSediqi said the Afghan government would present a national roadmap for peace and development of the country.

He said the objective was to bring about stability, improvement and self-reliance to Afghanistan.

Sediqi said the government would outline its plan for another four years to bring peace, food security, alleviate poverty, investment in revenue-generating areas and fighting Covid-19.

“Afghanistan expects the international community will continue to cooperate with the Afghan people and government on pursuing our goals and programs,” Sediqi added.

sa/ma

Views: 5