Afghanistan: NATO continues evacuations

Brussels 20.08.2021 NATO Foreign Ministers met via teleconference on Friday (20 August 2021) to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. “What we have witnessed in recent days is a tragedy for the people of Afghanistan,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He stressed that NATO’s top priority is the continuing evacuation of people from Allied and…

Johansson: no returns to Afghans in EU

Brussels 19.08.2021 “The European Commission has been following the latest developments in Afghanistan with great and increasing concern” said the in the statement by Commissioner Johansson on the situation in Afghanistan at the extraordinary meeting of Interior Ministers. Today in a meeting with Interior ministers HRVP Borrell and I gave an update on the situation…

Taliban: EU monitors women rights

Brussels 18.06.2021 This statement has been co-signed by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, European Union, Honduras, Guatemala, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Senegal, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America. Afghanistan: Joint Statement on the situation of women and girls The international community stands ready to…

EU: Afghanistan Borrell Declaration

Brussels 17.08.2021 European Union Ministers of Foreign Affairs gathered today for an extraordinary meeting to consider the latest momentous developments in Afghanistan. The country finds itself at a crossroads after decades of conflict. The wellbeing and security of its citizens, political and human rights achievements, as well as regional and international security are at stake….

TALIBAN: UNICEF cautious optimism

Brussels 17.08.2021 The chief of field operations of the U.N. children’s agency expressed cautious optimism about working with Taliban officials following their seizure of power in Kabul on Sunday August 15, citing their early expressions of support for girls’ education. UNICEF 'quite optimistic' after Taliban comments on girls' education, official says https://t.co/Vkd812zkvP pic.twitter.com/vJEfFr3UKm — Reuters…

Taliban announces “general amnesty”

Brussels 17.08.2021 The Taliban announced a “general amnesty” for all government officials on Tuesday, August 17, and urged them to return to work, trying to calm the mood in the capital city after Sunday chaos at Kabul airport as people tried to flee all directions. Women would also be allowed to play a role in…

Borrell convenes urgent Council

Brussels 16.08.2021 “Following latest developments in Afghanistan, and after intense contacts with partners in the past days and hours, I decided to convene an extraordinary VTC (video-tele- conference) of EU Foreign Ministers FAC (Foreign Ministers Council) tomorrow afternoon for a first assessment” the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell wrote on his Twitter micro blog. Following…

Afghanistan: international community statement

Brussels 16.08.2021 The following is the text of a joint statement on Afghanistan initially released by the following: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federated…

Kabul: Mullah Ghani Baradar assumes control

Brussels 15.08.2021 Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Qatar’s Al-Jazeera English satellite news channel that they are “awaiting a peaceful transfer of Kabul.” He declined to offer specifics on any possible negotiations between his forces and the government. Shaheen acknowledged that they were seeking an “unconditional surrender” by the central government. #UPDATE Taliban fighters were ordered…