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QNA
Doha/Washington/Brussels,
Qatar together with Germany, Indonesia, Norway and Uzbekistan on Thursday welcomed the announcements by the two Afghan negotiating sides that they have adopted the rules of procedures and moved to discuss the draft agenda.
A joint statement issued by the countries said the achievement was an important step in a process that must have at its end point a durable and inclusive peace settlement in Afghanistan.
Germany, Indonesia, Norway and Uzbekistan furthermore praised Qatar’s key role in hosting and facilitating this phase of negotiations and the important breakthrough.
The countries encouraged both sides to build on the important milestone that was achieved by continuing to engage with each other in good faith, constructively and ready to find common ground. They also urged both sides to give priority to ending violence.
Meanwhile, the United States also welcomed the agreement announced by the Afghan negotiators in Doha, expressing gratitude to Qatar for its role as a host and facilitator of the Afghan peace talks.
Rapid progress on a political roadmap and a ceasefire is what the people of Afghanistan want more than anything else, the US Department of State said.
This agreement is a major milestone in the Afghanistan peace negotiations that have been under way since Sep 12, 2020, it added.
It said the agreement codifies the rules and procedures the two sides which have been negotiating since the start of talks, adding that the teams made a number of important decisions that will guide their negotiations on a political roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire.
The US Department of State congratulated both sides on their perseverance and willingness to find common ground. This achievement demonstrates that the Afghan Islamic Republic and Taliban are serious, able to overcome differences, and ready to deal with difficult issues, it said.
What has been achieved provides hope the two sides will succeed in reaching a political settlement to the more than forty-year-old conflict, the US State Department said, adding that the US will continue to support the peace process and work with all sides in pursuit of a serious reduction of violence and ceasefire.
Similarly, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the progress made in the agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
He said that the agreement is one step forward towards a lasting, political and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan.
In a press statement, the Secretary General stressed that all NATO allies strongly support the peace process, adding “now we would like to see more progress and we need to see rapid progress, both on establishing a political roadmap, but not least on the important issue of a comprehensive ceasefire.”
He pointed out that the agreement which was announced demonstrates that the parties who are negotiating, are able to make progress, even on tough and difficult issues, stressing that this is important because Afghans want peace.
It is still a long way to go, many hurdles to be overcome, but this is an important first step and it is encouraging to see that it was possible to make that step today, he added.
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04/12/2020
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