Brussels, 03/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 December, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani confirmed that the next ministerial conference on Afghanistan will be held in Brussels on 4-5 October 2016.
This conference is expected to renew international support and international partnership until 2020, alongside the continuing security-related efforts within the framework of NATO. In the opinion of Mogherini and Rabbani, the conference “should be a catalyst for mobilising much-needed political and financial support for Afghanistan's future with the help of our international partners”. “In this regard, the national unity government in Afghanistan reaffirms an equally strong commitment to reform and change”, they stated in a joint press release.
In their view, the conference “will send a strong signal of hope, confidence and change to the Afghan people”. “After decades of conflict, our commitment to a better future for Afghanistan is vital if we are to meet the aspirations of Afghan citizens”, added Mogherini and Rabbani, stating that they had discussed the country's security problems and the need to work together to ensure peace and reconciliation.
“We will now focus on engaging in an effective preparation of the conference together, also along with the EU member states as well as other key partners in the international community”, said Mogherini and Rabbani. Conferences have already been held in Tokyo in 2012 and London in 2014.
Mogherini and Rabbani also said they were determined to strengthen their partnership “in the interest of peace and development” for their citizens. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)