President Ashraf Ghani expressed hope for a peaceful Afghanistan, saying a big opportunity has been created for the country to move towards a prosperous future, while addressing Tuesday at a press conference with Federica Maria Mgherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
According to Ghani, stability in Afghanistan is in favor of stability in region and the world, adding peace cannot be achieve through threats, indirectly depicting to recent pressures by a number of Afghan politicians on the process.
Ghani said the future of the county will only be determined by Afghans; thus a consultative Jirga will be held in nearing future to pave the ground for intra-Afghan dialogues.
Consultative Jirga on peace will be held on April 29, in which some 2,000 delegates from across Afghanistan will attend the assembly. Women will compose 30 percent of the representatives.
Ghani further said Afghanistan is suffering a measurable loss of violence, adding that basis for country’s policy is to create a positive image among the international community towards the Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mogherini said the foundation for peace have been laid in the country, and Afghan should now push further the process.
“Time has come for the Afghans, all the Afghans non-exploded to take the future of their country in their hands and for a peace process that can be really sustainable, we see the needs to meet some conditions to make any negotiation sustainable over time,” she said, as quoted by local media.
Mogherini said the European Union will continue supporting the Afghan peace process, and intra-Afghan dialogue under consultative Jirga that will include Afghan women.
“I will point on which the European Union will always be at the side of the Afghan people, never never leaving any of them alone. First of all, a ceasefire agreed by the Taliban, and peace talks with the Afghan government. Second, an inclusive negotiation team to be established with representatives of all Afghan society including women,” she said.
Earlier today, Mogherini met with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, discussing peace, election and EU’s support in Afghanistan.
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[Earlier: ‘EU Vows Full Support for Afghanistan Amid Security Crises’]
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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