(C) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
This story was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



UN to Hold Second Meeting of Special Envoys to Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar [1]

['Politically Speaking']

Date: 2024-02-16 20:56:36.689000+00:00

UN to Hold Second Meeting of Special Envoys to Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar Politically Speaking · Follow 3 min read · 1 day ago 1 day ago -- Listen Share

Secretary-General António Guterres is convening key actors for a second time to discuss how to approach increasing international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner, for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan.

People receive food rations at a WFP distribution site on the outskirts of Herat in Afghanistan, 2021. Photo credit: WFP/Marco Di Lauro

“It is difficult to overestimate the gravity of the situation in Afghanistan. It is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today. Ninety-seven percent of Afghans live in poverty. Two-thirds of the population — 28 million — will need humanitarian assistance this year to survive. Six million Afghan children, women, and men are one step away from famine-like conditions.” — Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking to the press in Doha on 2 May 2023.

O n 18 and 19 February, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will be in Doha, Qatar, where he is convening a meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is accompanying the Secretary-General. The conference will continue discussions among special envoys and regional organizations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s assumption of power in 2021.

The two-day event will be the second such gathering organized by the global body within a year, following a session in May 2023. Participants will include those from Afghanistan, the wider region and beyond, as well as other regional organizations working actively on Afghanistan such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The de facto authorities have been invited to attend.

The first meeting of special envoys, which took place in May 2023, was convened to achieve consensus within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban on issues such as human rights — especially those of women and girls — as well as inclusive governance; countering terrorism; and drug trafficking.

Discussions at the upcoming second meeting this weekend will take place in the context of Security Council resolution 2721 (2023), which encourages Member States to consider increasing international engagement in the country, with the objective of a “clear end state of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully reintegrated into the international community and meeting international obligations.”

Participants will discuss how to approach international engagement with Afghanistan in a more coherent, coordinated, and structured manner, through consideration of the recommendations of the independent assessment on Afghanistan, which was presented to the Security Council on 9 November 2023 to the Security Council (S/2023/856). Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioğlu will be in Doha to contribute to the discussion related to the independent assessment and its recommendations. This will include the subject of the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, to help move diplomatic efforts forward between Afghan and international stakeholders, as well as helping advance intra-Afghan dialogue.

The meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss the challenges the country faces, and to brainstorm on possible ways to engage with the de facto authorities for the benefit of the Afghan people. At the event, two separate sessions are scheduled for special envoys from 25 countries to meet with the de facto authorities and Afghan civil society participants, including women. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo will moderate the discussion at these two meetings.

Speaking to the press after the first such meeting in 2023, Guterres said that “The UN will continue to use its convening power to advance a forward leaning approach, which puts the Afghan people first, and in a manner that is complementary to existing regional platforms and initiatives.” As the second meeting commences, participants will look to find a structured, international approach to help Afghanistan regain its stability.

Read resolution 2721 (2023) here.

Read the independent assessment on Afghanistan here.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://dppa.medium.com/un-to-hold-second-meeting-of-special-envoys-to-afghanistan-in-doha-qatar-35252f3d60e1

Published and (C) by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Content appears here under this condition or license: By permission of RFE/RL.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/rferl/