(United Nations) The UN Secretary General will organize an international meeting on Afghanistan on May 1 and 2 in Doha to “clarify expectations” in a number of files, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
“There will be a meeting in Doha on May 1 and 2, organized by the secretary-general with special envoys on Afghanistan from various countries,” Stephane Dujarric told reporters, as the UN mission in Afghanistan (Manua) launched an evaluation of its functioning after the ban on Afghan women working for the UN.
The purpose of the meeting is “to reinvigorate international engagement around common goals towards a sustainable path regarding the situation in Afghanistan”, he added.
“As the Secretary-General has said, it is a priority to advance an approach based on pragmatism and principle,” he said, hoping that such discussions behind closed doors can help “contribute to a more united consensus on the challenges ahead.
Asked about the presence of Taliban representatives at this meeting, he replied that “at this stage, the meeting will bring together representatives from various countries with responsibility for the Afghanistan portfolio”.
These statements come after remarks made Monday at Princeton University by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
“The Taliban want to be recognized […] This is our leverage.”
“In no way did she mean that anyone other than the member states has the authority to recognize” the Taliban, Stéphane Dujarric insisted on Wednesday.
In December, the UN General Assembly approved the report of the committee responsible for the accreditation of ambassadors, which has postponed since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 any decision on their request to accredit an ambassador representing them at the UN. .
The Deputy Secretary General, very involved in this file, “reaffirmed the need for the international community to find a coordinated approach to Afghanistan”, noted Stéphane Dujarric.
“This includes finding common ground on a longer-term vision for the country and sending a united message to the de facto authorities on the imperative of ensuring women’s rightful place in Afghan society,” he said. he adds.
The United Nations announced on April 4 that the Taliban was now banning its Afghan employees, hitherto spared from such NGO measures, from working with the organization throughout the country.
Since this announcement, Manua has launched a review of the functioning of UN operations in the country, which is due to last until May 5.
