Monday, January 23, 2012
Kabul (BNA) Deputy Minister for political affairs of foreign ministry attended a joint press conference with the US special envoy for Afghanistan at Foreign Ministry in Kabul.
Welcoming Mr. Gruessman Ludeen described in relations to the deep and vast relations between the two nations, including support to the peace process of Afghanistan, major meetings on Afghanistan in the coming months including the meeting of NATO heads of state in Chicago, ministerial meeting of regional foreign entitled “Heart of Asia” in Kabul in connection with the Istanbul Conference in June and the international Tokyo conference on the month of July this year.
Regarding the peace process Ludeen said that peace is important and immediate desire of the people of Afghanistan and the Afghan government is fully committee towards follow up of this process and realization of the aspiration of people of Afghanistan.
He added that as president Karzai has clearly stated earlier, the government of Afghanistan agrees on opening of the Taliban office in Qatar and practical carrying of peace talks, but stressed that this office is not yet opened.
He noted that for creation of such an office, in the first place, it is necessary that direct talks is started between the government of Afghanistan and Qatar and a clear agreement comes into being in this respect between the two nations.
Therefore the government of Afghanistan is waiting for direct contacts with the Qatar government in this respect and shall welcome its delegation visit to Kabul in the near future.
Gruessman said that during his visit to Kabul he had official meetings with president Karzai, minister of foreign affairs and members of the high peace council.
He stressed that the US administration supports the Afghan peace process and added that the time is ripe now that efforts should be taken for creation of an office for Taliban in Qatar so that direct talks between Afghans make peace restoration possible.
He added that only the Afghans can decide on the future of Afghanistan.
He stressed further that in order to open the office in Qatar the Taliban should also declare that they have stopped their link with the international terrorism and they support peace process for termination of conflict in Afghanistan.
Stressing the position of Afghanistan in relation to Guantanamo prisoners, Ludeen noted that in connection to the peace process, in case the US administration decide to send some of the prisoners to Qatar and it these prisoners are willing to return and want to join their families in that country, the Afghan government supports this measure as well.
