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Western nations urge immediate resumption of negotiations on Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, May 7 (KUNA) -- A number of Western countries, Friday, urged the immediate resumption, without pre-conditions, of substantive negotiations on the future of Afghanistan.
Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States on the Afghan Peace Process released a joint statement today after a virtual meeting with the negotiating team of the government of Afghanistan and the negotiating team of the Taliban hosted by Germany yesterday.
They highlighted the need to accelerate the pace of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace negotiations and committed to work with the Government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and other Afghan political and civil society leaders to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement and political compromise that ends the war for the benefit of all Afghans They expressed appreciation to the Government of Qatar for its long-standing contribution to facilitate the peace process, including hosting and supporting Afghanistan Peace Negotiations since September 12th, 2020, and underlined their support for the continuation of discussions between the parties' negotiating teams in Doha.
They appreciated the offer from Turkey, the United Nations and Qatar to co-convene a senior-level peace conference in Istanbul.
In this regard, participants called upon the Taliban to stop their undeclared spring offensive, and to stop immediately all attacks in the vicinity of hospitals, schools, universities, mosques and other civilian areas.
The statement encouraged all concerned countries, in particular Afghanistan's neighbors and countries of the region, to continue to support the Afghan people and constructively contribute to a lasting peace settlement and sustainable economic development in the interest of all. (end) nk.gta