Kabul/Doha/New York: The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, has had meetings in Doha with Special Representatives from Germany, Norway and the United States to discuss how to invigorate the Afghanistan peace negotiations and the enhanced role for the UN to help bring an end to Afghan people’s suffering through inclusive peace.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul also informed that Lyons also met with Qatari Special Envoy, Mutlaq al‑Qahtani, to discuss the peace negotiations and the key role of Qatar, as well as how the UN can best assist in ending the conflict, on March 10, 2021.
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In an earlier tweet on March 9, the UNAMA had informed that Lyons had arrived in Doha, “on a regularly scheduled visit”.
Lyons has been meeting with Afghan parties and international partners to discuss the status and next steps in the Afghan Peace Process, as well as to exchange views on how best the UN can support these efforts. She has underscored the continued commitment to work with the parties in ending the conflict and reaching an inclusive peace agreement.
“She has already met separately with Afghan Government representatives, with Taliban representatives, besides the international partners, as part of her regular engagement in support of the Afghan peace process,” her office informed.
The United Nations, as it is, stand ready to assist, if so requested by the parties since any potential UN role must be supportive of the Afghan people and be agreeable to the parties to the conflict and relevant to regional and international partners.
Amidst reports of the USA too planning to convene a meeting of foreign ministers on the subject of Afghanistan, the official UN position is that while it continues to support any effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, it stands “ready to assist, if so requested by the parties”.
Lyons is in touch with the Special US Representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who was in Doha meeting with negotiating parties to encourage progress in the Afghan peace negotiations, for a political settlement and a comprehensive ceasefire. To a specific question on whether she had been asked to convene the conference of Foreign Ministers, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General in New York, could only say that she had been in touch with Mr. Khalilzad “and many others”.
Besides, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been on a tour of the Gulf region and scheduled to be in Doha too, had proposed an Afghanistan conference to be staged by Russia. To a question whether Lyons planned to meet Lavrov also, Dujarric said, he would have to check whether or not she meets with the Russian Foreign Minister. Dujarric though added: “It’s no secret that there are a number of proposals that are out there on the calendar. We are in touch with everyone that matters to try to get some clarification and also to… not only on the substance of the meetings but also on the calendar.”
– global bihari bureau
