UN expects positive decisions at Doha meeting

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Special Coordinator for Afghanistan Feridun Sinirlioğlu says positive decisions will be made about Afghanistan at the UN-convened meeting in Doha.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

Sinirlioğlu commended Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials for assisting him during his mission, supporting greater ties between the caretaker government and the world at large.

He hailed the “Afghanistan Regional Cooperation Initiative” meeting in Kabul last week. He believed such meetings were essential for Afghanistan.

The UN official expressed optimism that the international community, including the US and European countries, was interested in establishing relations and cooperating with IEA.

Sinirlioğlu said there are some international laws and conventions which IEA should be committed to.

Afghanistan was important for the region as stability in the country meant stability and security in the entire region, he commented.

The UN coordinator hoped good decisions would be made about Afghanistan at the UN-led meeting in Doha and positive changes would come to relations between international community and Afghanistan.

The UN official said: “No one wants the collapse of IEA. In fact, everyone wants to connect IEA with international community.”

He said the World Bank would meet on Afghanistan in the near future to discuss the improvement of the Afghan banking sector, removal of sanctions and unfinished projects.

For his part, the deputy premier appreciated the UN special coordinator and endorsed most parts of his report. However Kabir insisted there was no need to appoint a new special representative in the presence of UNAMA and an independent central government in Afghanistan.

He reiterated the IEA’s desire for constructive interaction with the international community.

The deputy premier welcomed the resumption of unfinished projects in Afghanistan by the World Bank.

He hoped effective steps would be taken in the Doha meeting towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s, humanitarian assistance and removal of curbs on the banking system.

The UN-led meeting in the Qatari capital is scheduled for February 18 and 19.

kk/mud