DOHA: Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs at the United Nations, Rosemary DiCarlo, stressed that the Third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan, currently taking place in Doha, has been highly productive and continues to advance effective engagement with the Afghan people.
In a press conference held on Monday on the sidelines of the meeting, she expressed hope that the ongoing discussions would help move matters forward, leading to a more open and inclusive Afghan society in terms of governance and civil participation. She also extended her deep appreciation to Qatar for hosting the meeting.
She said, "This is the third Doha meeting, but it is also a first. Indeed, this is the first time such a broad cross-section of the international community and the de facto authorities have had the opportunity to hold such detailed discussions. These discussions were frank and, I believe, useful. They were based on priority areas listed in the independent assessment the UN Security Council recognized last November."
"That assessment called for a more structured process, with clear conditions and expectations for all sides. So, we are pursuing a principled, step-for-step approach with a clear understanding of the outcomes and commitments from all sides. We are still at the beginning of this process," she added.
She said, "The Afghan private sector faces enormous obstacles to its development and growth, which adversely affects the economy and livelihoods. Afghanistan also needs support in building on the progress made in curbing drug production. Running through all the discussions was the deep international concern - from special envoys and me - about the ongoing and serious restrictions on women and girls. Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population."
"We also discussed the need for more inclusive governance and respect for the rights of minorities. There was broad agreement on the need to chart a clear way forward. And we at the UN are committed to continue to facilitate this process."
DiCarlo underlined, "The concerns and views of Afghan women and civil society were front and centre. For the United Nations, the meaningful inclusion of women in political and peace processes is a guiding principle. I raised these issues at all our sessions with the de facto authorities. And we will have focused discussions tomorrow with Afghan women and civil society."
"And while women and civil society were not sitting across the table from the de facto authorities the last two days, they made their voices heard. Civil society has a rightful role to play in shaping Afghanistan's future.
"We faced a very tough, maybe impossible, choice in organizing this meeting. We have a mandate to support this process. Our brief was to bring the de facto authorities and the special envoys together for direct talks. Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format. But they heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life. I would also like to emphasize that this meeting and this process of engagement does not mean normalization or recognition."
She added, "I hope that the constructive exchanges on the various issues over the last two days have moved us a little closer to resolving some of the problems that are having such a devastating impact on the Afghan people." "Above all, the discussion confirmed the international community's unity in its resolve to continue engagement with Afghanistan."
She pointed out that the meeting addressed many current issues, including obstacles faced by the private sector and what is needed to facilitate its operations, as well as combating drugs and their spread, which affects neighbouring countries, explaining that there is genuine interest from the Afghan side in moving forward in this area, and special envoys have been clear in these discussions, expressing their desire to support these efforts. However, each member state must decide how to proceed on this issue.On human rights and Afghan women's rights, she said that this issue has been raised multiple times and remains the number one concern for special envoys worldwide. It has been discussed in all previous meetings, and they genuinely hope to see some movement. The issue is not only about women's and girls' rights but also about depriving half the population of education, economic participation, and various professions, which delays Afghanistan's development.
Regarding the refusal of some Afghan entities to participate in the meeting, she expressed regret over the decision, while respecting and understanding the circumstances behind it. She noted that the meeting included some outstanding individuals who shared their views, adding that the special envoys share their views with them to move forward and work together. She pointed out that they are engaged in a long-term and not easy process and they will continue to do their utmost, stressing that they truly want to do what is best for the Afghan people as a whole.
DiCarlo emphasized that since the Taliban came to power, EU policies have focused on helping people in distress, stressing that they cannot remain silent about people suffering in such dire straits. It is one of the reasons why the international community insisted from day one that humanitarian aid must continue, then move to basic services, including an active civil society and youth needed for work are crucial, as this matter concerns people everywhere, not just in Afghanistan.
