Doha – Information Office – 24 November
The State of Qatar took part in Geneva international ministerial conference on Afghanistan, which was held virtually on Tuesday.
HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi represented the State of Qatar at the conference.
In the statement of the State of Qatar to the conference, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the wide participation by the international community in the conference affirms the joint international will to achieve the aspirations of the Afghan people for stability, security and development.
HE Al Muraikhi noted the State of Qatar's appreciation for the participation of HE President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani and HE the UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, and extended thanks to all participants and organizers of this important conference.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the conference is being held at an important stage in the history of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as it coincides with the ongoing Afghan peace negotiations hosted by Doha, which represent a real opportunity to end the decades-long conflict, violence and instability, and to fulfill the aspirations of the Afghan people for security, stability, prosperity and sustainable development.
HE the Minister noted that the State of Qatar has realized the futility of any military solution to the Afghan crisis. Based on its belief in the necessity of resolving and settling disputes by peaceful means, the State has made unremitting efforts through mediation and good offices in order to lay the foundations for peace in Afghanistan and to strengthen regional and international peace and stability, which resulted in signing the peace agreement between the United States America and the Taliban in Doha on February 29, ceasefire during Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, and the mutual release of prisoners between the Afghan government and the Taliban, in addition to the start of intra-Afghan peace negotiations on September 12.
In this regard, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stressed the need for all Afghan parties to assume their responsibilities, give priority to the supreme national interest, move forward in the political process, achieve consensus and national reconciliation, preserve the unity and sovereignty of Afghanistan, and work on building the state of institutions on the principles of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law, combating corruption, justice and equality, under an Afghan leadership, which would strengthens the confidence between the Afghan people and their government on the one hand, and between the international community and Afghanistan on the other hand.
HE the Minister indicated that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan faces various security, economic, social, institutional and other challenges, expressing the appreciation of the State of Qatar for the efforts exerted by the Afghan government to address these challenges in spite of all difficulties.
In this context, HE Al Muraikhi said that the State of Qatar appreciates and supports all international and regional efforts aimed at helping the Afghan people realize peace, stability and development, and stresses the need for the international community to continue providing the necessary support to ensure the implementation of strategic national programs and plans, assessing the progress made, identifying the challenges ahead and how to overcome them, preserving the numerous gains that have been achieved on the ground and working to consolidate them, and developing the Afghan national institutional performance level and capabilities, especially in light of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its negative repercussions on the social, economic and humanitarian fields.
HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi reiterated that the State of Qatar will continue to provide various forms of support to the Afghan people, noting that this support was embodied recently by joining the Core Group of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees Support Platform, based on the belief that the solution to Afghan refugee and displacement issues depends on achieving peace, and that peace is also promoted by finding durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons.