According to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey postpones Afghan peace conference in Istanbul, which was scheduled to be held from April 24 until May 4, until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Republic of Turkey, the State of Qatar, and the United Nations are the organizers of a high level and inclusive conference on Afghanistan. Turkey is hosting the conference in Istanbul. According to spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, the co-conveners expected that the Conference would provide an important opportunity for all parties to reiterate support for the people of Afghanistan on their path toward an inclusive peace, stability and prosperity.
The “overriding objective” of the Istanbul conference is to “accelerate the ongoing intra-Afghan negotiations” which have been taking place since early this year in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Conference will focus on helping the negotiating parties reach a new set of shared, foundational principles that reflect an agreed vision for a future Afghanistan, a road map to a future political settlement and an end to the conflict.
This year, the international community has increased the efforts to address this problem. Neighboring states, including Turkmenistan, as well as regional and global players demonstrate their commitment to make their contribution to ensuring the peace process in Afghanistan.
As reported by the Russian media, on March 18, 2021, Moscow hosted a regular meeting of the extended “Troika” comprising representatives of Russia, China, the United States, and Pakistan, which focused on making progress in the intra-Afghan process to reach a negotiated settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. The event was attended by representatives of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, prominent Afghan political figures, and representatives of the Taliban movement
The forum discussed ways of promoting the inter-Afghan talks in Doha, as well as reducing the level of violence and ending the armed conflict in Afghanistan, making this country an independent, peaceful and self-sufficient state free from terrorism and drug-related crime. The Governments of the United States of America, Russia, China, and Pakistan released the statement on Peaceful Settlement in Afghanistan, calling on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and to create an environment conducive to reaching a negotiated political settlement.
On 30 March 2021, Dushanbe was the venue of the Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process 9th Ministerial Conference held under the motto “Strengthening Consensus for Peace and Development in Afghanistan”. The conference brought together representatives of 31 countries and 16 regional and international organisations.
The Dushanbe Declaration adopted on the outcomes of the conference welcomes the diplomatic efforts of all countries, including the participants in the talks in Doha, Moscow and the upcoming high-level meeting in Turkey.
Ogulgozel REDJEPOVA
