Finland’s Special Envoy for 2020 Afghanistan Conference holds meetings in Doha, Qatar

NordenBladet — As final preparations are made for the 2020 Afghanistan Conference on 23-24 November, Special Envoy Janne Taalas visited Doha to provide briefings on the upcoming pledging event.The 2020 Afghanistan Conference will set out the shared development objectives and commitments of the Government of Afghanistan and international community for 2021–2024.In addition to the pledges of financial support, a joint political declaration and a new aid architecture supporting Afghanistan’s development needs and priorities are the main expected outcomes of the conference.Finland, together with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations, are the co-hosts of the conference.During his trip to Doha on Saturday, 7 November 2020, Special Envoy Taalas, who leads Finland’s work with conference preparations, also met with representatives of the teams engaged in the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations.As requested by the international donor community, Special Envoy Taalas presented to the representatives with messages on key principles outlining the modalities of future international support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and development agenda in Afghanistan.International development partners highlight the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process that preserves and builds on the political, economic and social achievements of the Afghan people since 2001. They stress the importance of protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially the rights of women, children and minority groups and further promoting these throughout the negotiations as well as in the subsequent agreement and its implementation.International donors also call for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. Such a development would improve aid delivery and offer much needed respite to the Afghan people.Special Envoy Taalas provided updates on the practical arrangements concerning the conference. Due to the serious Covid-19 situation in Switzerland, the Conference will take place virtually, with the Palais des Nations in Geneva remaining as the hub for all logistics.  All of the 2020 Afghanistan Conference proceedings will be webcast live on webtv.un.org.For more information about the 2020 Afghanistan Conference: https://um.fi/afghanistan-conference-2020 Contacts:Laila Clyne, Deputy to Special Envoy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. +385 50 346 1719, Johanna Kaprio, Communications Coordinator, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. +358 50 522 8916The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format [email protected]

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi