Geneva – Information Office – 28 November
The State of Qatar has confirmed that it continues its efforts, good offices and mediation to lay the foundations for peace between the parties in Afghanistan, pointing out its belief in the futility of any military solution to the Afghan crisis.
This came in the speech delivered by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi today during the Geneva International Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan.
HE the Minister expressed great appreciation for the participation of HE Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, HE Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Afghanistan, and thanked the Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis for hosting this conference, organization and good preparation to ensure its success.
HE the Minister said that the Afghan people are now going through a crucial historical stage that separates two options: to move forward in strengthening the political process, guaranteeing all the rights of the Afghan people and achieving their aspirations for security, stability and prosperity; or the collapse of the situation and the continuation of the cycle of conflict and violence and exhausting the resources of the State, stressing that all parties in Afghanistan bear their responsibilities, stressing the need to give priority to national interests over personal interests, to work towards national reconciliation and to build a State of institutions based on the principles of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
HE the Minister also noted that this conference is an important opportunity to assess progress and develop a roadmap to overcome the current challenges, as well as to redouble the efforts of the international community to promote peace, stability, security and development to realize the hopes of the Afghan people after decades of fighting and to strengthen their self-reliance to enable them to overcome the difficulties they face.
"The world has recently witnessed the resolve and ability of the Afghan people to defy terrorism when they went to the election polls to choose their representatives in parliament. HE the Minister expressed Qatar's confidence in the efforts of the Afghan government to maintain progress and avoid all shortcomings and the challenges and problems that permeated the parliamentary elections, when organizing presidential elections next year.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed the hope that more efforts would be made to implement plans and programs of reform and fight corruption as soon as possible and with Afghan leadership, thus enhancing confidence between the Afghan people and their government on the one hand and between the international community and Afghanistan on the other.
The State of Qatar believes in the futility of any military solution to the Afghan crisis, and therefore the State of Qatar continues its efforts, good offices and mediation to establish the foundations of peace between the parties in Afghanistan and ensure the achievement of a ceasefire and bringing the views of the parties concerned to reach a political solution in order to ensure the achievement of peace, stability and prosperity for the Afghan people, which will be reflected positively on the promotion of peace and regional and international stability, HE the Minister added.
HE the Minister expressed Qatar's strong condemnation of all bombings and attacks in Afghanistan, which often target civilians, stressing Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of motives and reasons.
HE the Minister reiterated Qatar's support for all international efforts aimed at ending the Afghan crisis and the situation of division in the country and supporting the reconstruction process, which would contribute to enhancing confidence among the Afghan parties, advancing the political and constitutional process, completing the transitional phase, achieving reconciliation.