On April 18, the second official preparatory meeting for the Kabul Conference on Afghanistan will be held in Ashgabat.
Delegations from 15 courtiers and 14 observer-countries, including delegations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, People’s Republic of China, United Arab Emirates, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, USA, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of France, Japan as well as delegations from 10 international and regional organizations, including the UNO, EU, NATO, OSCE and UNAMA will take part in the work of this conference.
The International Conference on Afghanistan will be held on June 14, 2012 in Kabul at the level of foreign ministers.
According to the assessment of experts, major issues on organization of Kabul Conference will be discussed in the course of the Ashgabat preparatory meeting. During the second official preparatory meeting, it is particularly planned to consider the projects “The Istanbul process: new agenda for regional cooperation in Central Asia”, the concept of realization of the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation for stable Afghanistan and Kabul Declaration.
“The Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan: security and cooperation in Central Asia” submitted a new concept of cooperation in the region, accentuating the issues on problems of Afghanistan. Uniting Afghanistan and its neighboring region in the unique format “Heart of Asia” for the first time, an agreement with the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation for safe and stable Afghanistan has been reached at the conference. It reflects the joint will of the countries “Heart of Asia” “to enter into frank, result-oriented cooperation at all levels”. The Istanbul process recognizes an important role, “readiness of Afghanistan and resoluteness to use its regional historical possibilities, contribute to the security and worldwide economic cooperation in the region”.
The document outlines three key elements for further processes, which items will be included into the Kabul Declaration. These are the regular holding of political consultations between Afghanistan and its nearest and far neighbors; sustainable step-by-step approach for realization of measures of confidence agreed at the Istanbul Conference; search for making the own contribution and attainment of greater agreement in various separate processes and organizations in the region, particularly in the context, where they are connected with Afghanistan. Major pack of confidence measures supposes the regional cooperation in the field of politics and security, economics, education, culture and law with determination of ways of its further implementation and monitoring. Concerning the issues of cooperation with international and regional organizations, all 9 organizations Afghanistan takes part in have been invited for participation in the ministerial conference for solution of processes at the technical level and relevant events on problems of security and closer economic cooperation. The Contact group of ambassadors of the countries “Heart of Asia” has been created in Kabul as well. It will realize the monitoring of events and meetings with all participants of the Istanbul process.
Official delegation of Turkmenistan, which participated in the work of the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan, gave a detailed account of principal approaches of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the Afghan subject matter based on his speech at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly. In the context of initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan, five major items on maintenance of peace and stability in Afghanistan have been voiced again. It is the readiness of the Turkmen state to hold under the aegis of the UN of a high-level meeting on strengthening the measures of confidence in Afghanistan and development of efficient institutions of the state authority; support of training of the Afghan personnel for management structures in various sectors, including on the territory of Turkmenistan under patronage of the UNO; urgency of the development of transport and communication infrastructure of Afghanistan and assistance of Turkmenistan in this field; realization of the project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline urged to play key role in restoration of economy and social infrastructure of Afghanistan; increase of electric power supply of Afghanistan several times, which is quite important for stirring up the restoration activities and adjustment of normal vital activity of the country.
Aid and assistance, being rendered by Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, have wide aspects today, including real measures in the political and diplomatic, economic and humanitarian spheres.
On December 4-5, the official delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the work of the international conference for Afghanistan held in Bonn (Federal Republic of Germany). In the statement of the delegation of Turkmenistan, special emphasis was also made on the international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan on restoration of Afghanistan. In the context of consolidation of efforts on restoration of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan underlines the importance of realization of large-scale projects aimed at strengthening of socio-economic infrastructure of the Afghan state and significant for the development of wide international cooperation in the region. Delegation of Turkmenistan took up in detail the principal positions of its country on realization of the large-scale project Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
On February 29, 2012, the first preparatory meeting on further activity in the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation with Afghanistan was held in Kabul. In the course of this meeting, it was considered the project “The Istanbul process: a new agenda for regional cooperation in Central Asia”. At that time, the meeting participants considered the project prepared by Afghan party and decided to stir up the regional cooperation in fight against terrorism, extremism, organized crime and illegal drug traffic. These trends have been determined as priority directions of the regional cooperation and will be outlined in the project of the Kabul Declaration.
It is particularly worth mentioning that the meeting participants supported the initiative of delegation of Turkmenistan on holding of the second official preparatory meeting of the senior officials for the Kabul Conference on Afghanistan in Ashgabat in April 2012. Turkmenistan is faithful to its position, taking into account the community of goals on maintenance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, realizing in practice joint large-scale projects on construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, expansion of railway communications, construction of the Atamyrat-Imamnazar-Akina-Andkhoi railroad as well as on increase of power transmission volume from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan.
Moreover, within the framework of rendering the humanitarian aid, Turkmenistan realizes the projects on construction of power transmission lines, creation of transport infrastructure, and erection of social facilities as well as regularly provides the humanitarian aid for the Afghan people.
Taking into consideration the fact that major decisions of the heads of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on the Istanbul process and Declaration of Kabul a meeting will be made in Ashgabat, the second official preparatory meeting for the Kabul Conference on Afghanistan of the member countries of the Istanbul conference will be an important part of peace maintenance process in Afghanistan – key factor for the whole system of security and stable development not only in the Central Asian region, but also in wider global scale.
Delegations from 15 courtiers and 14 observer-countries, including delegations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, People’s Republic of China, United Arab Emirates, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, USA, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of France, Japan as well as delegations from 10 international and regional organizations, including the UNO, EU, NATO, OSCE and UNAMA will take part in the work of this conference.
The International Conference on Afghanistan will be held on June 14, 2012 in Kabul at the level of foreign ministers.
According to the assessment of experts, major issues on organization of Kabul Conference will be discussed in the course of the Ashgabat preparatory meeting. During the second official preparatory meeting, it is particularly planned to consider the projects “The Istanbul process: new agenda for regional cooperation in Central Asia”, the concept of realization of the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation for stable Afghanistan and Kabul Declaration.
“The Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan: security and cooperation in Central Asia” submitted a new concept of cooperation in the region, accentuating the issues on problems of Afghanistan. Uniting Afghanistan and its neighboring region in the unique format “Heart of Asia” for the first time, an agreement with the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation for safe and stable Afghanistan has been reached at the conference. It reflects the joint will of the countries “Heart of Asia” “to enter into frank, result-oriented cooperation at all levels”. The Istanbul process recognizes an important role, “readiness of Afghanistan and resoluteness to use its regional historical possibilities, contribute to the security and worldwide economic cooperation in the region”.
The document outlines three key elements for further processes, which items will be included into the Kabul Declaration. These are the regular holding of political consultations between Afghanistan and its nearest and far neighbors; sustainable step-by-step approach for realization of measures of confidence agreed at the Istanbul Conference; search for making the own contribution and attainment of greater agreement in various separate processes and organizations in the region, particularly in the context, where they are connected with Afghanistan. Major pack of confidence measures supposes the regional cooperation in the field of politics and security, economics, education, culture and law with determination of ways of its further implementation and monitoring. Concerning the issues of cooperation with international and regional organizations, all 9 organizations Afghanistan takes part in have been invited for participation in the ministerial conference for solution of processes at the technical level and relevant events on problems of security and closer economic cooperation. The Contact group of ambassadors of the countries “Heart of Asia” has been created in Kabul as well. It will realize the monitoring of events and meetings with all participants of the Istanbul process.
Official delegation of Turkmenistan, which participated in the work of the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan, gave a detailed account of principal approaches of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the Afghan subject matter based on his speech at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly. In the context of initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan, five major items on maintenance of peace and stability in Afghanistan have been voiced again. It is the readiness of the Turkmen state to hold under the aegis of the UN of a high-level meeting on strengthening the measures of confidence in Afghanistan and development of efficient institutions of the state authority; support of training of the Afghan personnel for management structures in various sectors, including on the territory of Turkmenistan under patronage of the UNO; urgency of the development of transport and communication infrastructure of Afghanistan and assistance of Turkmenistan in this field; realization of the project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline urged to play key role in restoration of economy and social infrastructure of Afghanistan; increase of electric power supply of Afghanistan several times, which is quite important for stirring up the restoration activities and adjustment of normal vital activity of the country.
Aid and assistance, being rendered by Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, have wide aspects today, including real measures in the political and diplomatic, economic and humanitarian spheres.
On December 4-5, the official delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the work of the international conference for Afghanistan held in Bonn (Federal Republic of Germany). In the statement of the delegation of Turkmenistan, special emphasis was also made on the international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan on restoration of Afghanistan. In the context of consolidation of efforts on restoration of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan underlines the importance of realization of large-scale projects aimed at strengthening of socio-economic infrastructure of the Afghan state and significant for the development of wide international cooperation in the region. Delegation of Turkmenistan took up in detail the principal positions of its country on realization of the large-scale project Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
On February 29, 2012, the first preparatory meeting on further activity in the Istanbul process on regional security and cooperation with Afghanistan was held in Kabul. In the course of this meeting, it was considered the project “The Istanbul process: a new agenda for regional cooperation in Central Asia”. At that time, the meeting participants considered the project prepared by Afghan party and decided to stir up the regional cooperation in fight against terrorism, extremism, organized crime and illegal drug traffic. These trends have been determined as priority directions of the regional cooperation and will be outlined in the project of the Kabul Declaration.
It is particularly worth mentioning that the meeting participants supported the initiative of delegation of Turkmenistan on holding of the second official preparatory meeting of the senior officials for the Kabul Conference on Afghanistan in Ashgabat in April 2012. Turkmenistan is faithful to its position, taking into account the community of goals on maintenance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, realizing in practice joint large-scale projects on construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, expansion of railway communications, construction of the Atamyrat-Imamnazar-Akina-Andkhoi railroad as well as on increase of power transmission volume from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan.
Moreover, within the framework of rendering the humanitarian aid, Turkmenistan realizes the projects on construction of power transmission lines, creation of transport infrastructure, and erection of social facilities as well as regularly provides the humanitarian aid for the Afghan people.
Taking into consideration the fact that major decisions of the heads of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on the Istanbul process and Declaration of Kabul a meeting will be made in Ashgabat, the second official preparatory meeting for the Kabul Conference on Afghanistan of the member countries of the Istanbul conference will be an important part of peace maintenance process in Afghanistan – key factor for the whole system of security and stable development not only in the Central Asian region, but also in wider global scale.
