Federica Maria Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the European Union strongly supports an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” peace process, adding achievements of the past 18 years should be preserved in this process.
Addressing a press conference with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul Tuesday, Mogherini said EU has always stepped along with Afghanistan and its people.
“It is a pleasure for me to meet Dr. Abdullah and finally [be] back to Kabul at the critical moment for the country and to express the full support of the European Union to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process,” a local media quoted Mogherini as saying.
“The European Union has always been on the side of Afghan people with no other agenda than peace, security, human rights, rural development for the country and we will continue to do so,” she added.
Mogherini further said EU will also support the upcoming presidential elections, which is due to September 28 in the county.
“The European Union would be at your side in this process also in the perpetration of presidential elections,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah thanked EU for its financial aid to country’s past elections, adding government will not spare any attempt to respond people’s expectations of a transparent election.
“The European Union has been one of the major donors [for Afghan elections],” said Abdullah. “Afghanistan is committed to holding presidential and other elections and the people of Afghanistan expect transparent and fair elections.”
It comes a day after Mogherini visited Pakistani officials in Islamabad Monday.
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