Afghanistan Times
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KABUL: The President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed European Council’s adopted conclusion on the peace process while reaffirming its political and economic commitment to the country.
The EU Council on Monday discussed the situation in Afghanistan with a special focus on the ongoing efforts for peace and how the bloc can best contribute in the process for a political settlement in the country.
The Council reaffirmed its political commitment and long-term support to the people of Afghanistan on their path towards peace, security and prosperity and asked all parties in the conflict, including the Afghan government the Taliban and to engage in intra-Afghan talks as soon as possible.
President Ghani in a statement said that the Afghan government has embarked on a series of endeavors lately to bring a dignified peace to Afghanistan, and EU has been a partner in peace and development all along. The adoption reestablished EU’s stand on the peace process that the Afghan government should own and lead the process.
“EU has also showed readiness to support Afghanistan attain a peace that not only preserves the political, social and economic gains of the past 18 years, but also empowers them,” President Ghani quoted as saying in a statement issued by Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
EU has adopted to support the Afghanistan in following aspects of peacemaking in particular:
. to help make the peace process inclusive;
. to assist the Afghan government with reforms, including security sector reforms;
. to act as a guarantor of the peace process, if the parties requested;
. to assist with reintegration of fighters and their families and
. to promote regional connectivity and trade
The Afghan government seeks an inclusive peace, as laid out in President Ghani’s roadmap for peace, and considers EU has a vital role to play in the process. On behalf of the Afghan nation, President Ghani thanks EU for its unwavering, long-term commitment to the Afghan people.
