Invite us to any meeting on Afghanistan, Hanafi tells UN

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan government’s representatives should be invited to every international conference held about Afghanistan, acting deputy prime minister for administrative affairs Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi has said.

A statement from the Presidential Palace said Hanafi met today with United Nations special representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva and her delegation.

Otunbayeva briefed Hanafi about the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, in which she had participated.

UN humanitarian aid coordinator for Afghanistan Daniel Andres shared detailed information about the situation of Afghan refugees returning from neighboring countries and the assistance they received from international organizations.

Daniel said the big and national issue of returning refugees was approached effectively in a short time due to good coordination and joint work of UNAMA with the committees appointed by the Islamic Emirate.

Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi told the meeting that Afghan government officials should be invited to meetings on Afghanistan by OIC and other international organizations and countries.

Hanafi condemned the expulsion of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries as an act against all international principles and human rights.

He praised national and international organizations for their continued assistance with the returnees and assured the aid distribution process would be taken forward transparently by the committees concerned.

He said coordination between UN agencies and the Islamic Emirate would result into effective approach to the returning refugees in cold winter.

Hanafi asked the United Nations to encourage neighboring countries to fully respect human rights and the returning refugees’ right to safely transfer their assets to their own country.

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