DEPUTY MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN HELD A MEETING

On June 11, 2020, the next round of the meeting of the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and Afghanistan was held with the participation of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in the format of a video conference.

The meeting was attended by senior diplomats from the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia N. Gherman and representatives of the Center, the UN Assistant Secretary General for political affairs, peace building and peacekeeping, Ambassador Miroslav Yencha, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Peter Burian, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center, as well as international experts. The delegation of Turkmenistan was represented by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs V. Hajiev.

As the head of the Turkmen delegation noted, this format of regional communication has established itself as a productive and very useful platform for discussing topical issues on the agenda of our joint activities at the regional and global levels. Today’s online meeting is significant and timely, it provides an opportunity to exchange views and assessments of a difficult situation, consider initiatives, and directions to overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection.

The diplomat also specifically noted that a settlement in Afghanistan is possible only by peaceful, political means, on the basis of a broad nationwide dialogue with the participation of all responsible and constructive Afghan forces. We believe that the peacekeeping potential of the international community, primarily under the auspices of the United Nations, in Afghanistan should be involved more actively and broadly.

During the meeting, a review of national initiatives and proposals to overcome the crisis at the bilateral and regional levels, visions of governments for the post-crisis period, and recommendations on the possible role of the UN, including UNRCCA and other structures in supporting regional efforts, were reviewed.