UAE participates in Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process meeting in Afghanistan.

The UAE participated in a meeting of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The country’s delegation included Ahmed Al Hay Al Hameli, Director of the West Asia Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Hamad Rashid Al Habsy, Head of the South Asia Administration of the Ministry.

In her speech at the start of the meeting, Adeela Raz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, stressed the importance of the process in supporting peace in Afghanistan.

The Istanbul Process aims to cover topics related to supporting the relations between Afghanistan, its neighbouring countries and Central Asia, as well as to promote trade and achieve peace and stability.

The participants at the meeting discussed means of supporting Afghanistan under the process, as well as promoting cooperation, consultations and coordination between its member countries to combat terrorism.

In the UAE’s speech, Al Hameli affirmed the nation's full support for political reconciliation and the peace process led by the Afghan Government, while urging all segments of the Afghan community to assist in ensuring that these efforts succeed, which is the appropriate step to guarantee the future of Afghanistan.

He added that achieving security and peace in Central Asia is the key to achieving global stability and is a priority of the UAE’s policy, which is based on the United Nations Charter and International Law.

He went on to say that achieving peace in Afghanistan is necessary to ensuring stability and prosperity in the region while highlighting the importance of the participation of the international community in resolving the country’s security situation.

The UAE welcomes the declaration of Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, regarding the extension of the ceasefire period with the Taliban, while noting that the UAE supports President Ghani and his suggestion to start peace talks, and lauding his ongoing initiatives to promote political solutions and dialogue between Afghans and reject violence, Al Hameli continued.

He also confirmed the UAE’s unequivocal condemnation of all forms of terrorism, while adding that the UAE is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security conditions in Afghanistan, as well as the increasing presence of Al Qaeda and Daesh, and the activities of armed criminal groups.

Al Hameli noted that the UAE was a target of these terrorist groups while it performed its duties to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan, recalling that six Emirati diplomats were killed in a terrorist attack that targeted the Governor of Qandahar Hospitality House on 10th January 2017.

He went on to highlight the UAE’s ongoing development aid efforts in Afghanistan while noting the launch of the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Residential City in Kabul at the end of April, which included 3,330 residential units at the cost of AED708 million.

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