Source: Government of Qatar
Doha – Media & Communication Dept. – February 18
Under the auspices of the United Nations, the State of Qatar hosted on Sunday the 2nd meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan with the participation of HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.
In the speech of the State of Qatar during the opening session of the meeting, HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi reiterated the State of Qatar’s commitment to support the people of Afghanistan, and its sincere aspiration to advance the partnership in Afghanistan. He also expressed the State of Qatar’s pride in its partnership with the UN to support the people of Afghanistan.
He affirmed that the State of Qatar welcomes the recommendations of the UN report and believes that these recommendations are constructive, comprehensive, and can provide a consistent approach toward Afghanistan.
He added that the recommendations provide a clear roadmap and practical mechanisms, and if implemented in a correct manner, they could break the current stalemate and help move beyond the current situation regarding international engagement in Afghanistan.
His Excellency said that further consultations on the recommendations with the caretaker government would bear fruit. He added that Qatar sees the useful value of establishing a small international contact group as suggested in the recommendations so that the proposed international contact group formalizes the international efforts made by various regional and international actors to find a way for a unified road map for Afghanistan.
His Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar would be pleased to continue hosting such an official platform that creates a suitable environment for achieving better results.
He pointed out that Afghanistan stands at a crossroads, and this meeting comes at the right time as the people of Afghanistan need support more than ever. It is crucial to agree on a reasonable way to deal with Afghanistan, ensuring that it moves on the path of peace, tolerance, and prosperity.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the humanitarian situation is urgent, in addition to a worrying human rights situation, especially the rights of women and girls. He added that Qatar had shared its stance with the caretaker government and will continue until achieving positive results in that matter.
His Excellency noted that mediation, preventive diplomacy, and conflict resolution in peaceful ways constitute a strategic choice and fundamental bedrock of the State of Qatar’s foreign policy from Afghanistan to Gaza, Sudan’s Darfur to Chad, the United States and Venezuela, and Russia and Ukraine.
He indicated that the State of Qatar’s mediation efforts aim to contribute to calming conflicts and promoting international peace and security. In the case of the State of Qatar’s mediation efforts in Afghanistan, Qatar has shown a great deal of patience and determination and followed a comprehensive strategic approach, he added.
His Excellency said that the State of Qatar continues its efforts in Afghanistan, focusing on humanitarian, developmental, and diplomatic initiatives. In this regard, he indicated that the State of Qatar believes that dealing with the caretaker government is crucial to maintaining and strengthening the support of the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls.
He also pointed out that in March 2023, the State of Qatar hosted a roundtable meeting that brought together delegations from the Ministry of Health of the Afghan caretaker government, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to coordinate efforts to discuss the health situation in Afghanistan.
In that regard, he noted the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Education Above All Foundation’s (EAA) cooperation with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education to support 30,000 out-of-school children. In addition, QFFD signed an agreement with the WHO to support the provision of basic health services in 11 provinces in Afghanistan.