Iran FM to Attend Afghanistan Peace Talks in Geneva

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, the Iranian top diplomat will attend the conference to express Tehran’s stances on the restoration of peace to Afghanistan.

During his stay in Geneva, Zarif will also hold talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah as well as EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and a number of other officials attending the conference, Qassemi said on Monday.

The Geneva conference is expected to evaluate whether or not strategies and aid offered by others to Afghanistan to resolve the crisis in the country can pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

The goal of the conference is to show the solidarity of the international community with the Afghan people and the government in their efforts for peace and prosperity; and for the Afghan government to renew its commitment to development and reform. This is a crucial moment for the government and international community to demonstrate progress and commitment, and maintain the momentum for elections and opportunities for peace.

The conference will also be an opportunity to emphasise the importance of the development and reform agenda and the need to advance it as a constructive contribution to peace and security. This particular conference will also be crucial in measuring results against the $15.2 billion committed by the international community for Afghanistan in 2016.

The Geneva Conference on Afghanistan will be held between two pledging conferences: the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (2016) and the next pledging conference expected to be held in 2020.