UPDATES WITH CAVUSOGLU MEETINGS, JOINT DECLARATION
By Tolga Ozgenc and Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AA) - The Turkish foreign minister on Tuesday welcomed Afghanistan's call for unconditional negotiations with the Taliban.
“We welcome the call of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for starting negotiations with the Taliban without preconditions,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said, while addressing the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan in the Uzbek capital.
In February, the Afghan president offered an olive branch to the Taliban, who have waged a brutal insurgency in the country in the past 17 years.
Ghani said a cease-fire will be enforced, a political framework will be established, and steps will be taken to free Taliban prisoners.
“We want all the groups in Afghanistan to recognize the Afghan government, condemn violence and become part of legitimate politics,” Cavusoglu added.
He emphasized the need for participation of regional and international partners in the reconciliation process.
Cavusoglu also voiced Turkey’s support for a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan, noting his country’s $1-billion financial support since 2001.
Speaking at the same conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored the importance of a constructive dialogue between Afghanistan and Taliban for peace and stability in the country.
Describing Ghani’s call for Taliban as brave and concrete offer, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini dubbed it as an exemplary opportunity for peace.
During his Uzbekistan visit on occasion of the conference, Cavusoglu held bilateral meetings with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz and Palestinian counterparts, Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich and Khawaja Muhammad Asif respectively.
- Joint declaration
At the end of the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan, a declaration was issued on behalf of the participants of the conference.
“[We] voice our strong backing for the National Unity Government’s offer to launch direct talks with the Taliban, without any preconditions, with the ultimate goal of reaching the comprehensive peace agreement with the Taliban that is backed by the international community; and call upon the Taliban to accept this offer for a peace process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and in accordance with the relevant Resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations,” the statement said.
The participants emphasized that a political settlement with the Taliban was the best way to end violence in Afghanistan.
The declaration also demanded a guarantee for the inclusion of the Taliban in the political process as a legitimate political actor, and asked the Taliban to renounce violence, to break all ties to international terrorism and to respect for the equal rights of all Afghans under the country's constitution.
This declaration was adopted by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, England, the U.S., European Union and EU officials in the conference.