Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman of the United Nations Secretary-General, said that the main purpose of the Doha meeting is to re-strengthen international interaction and search for common goals for a sustainable progress in Afghanistan, not the recognition of the IE.
Dujarric added: “The purpose of the meeting is to re-strengthen the international interaction for a sustainable development in Afghanistan and to look for common goals and reach a common message. As with human rights and especially the issue of women and girls, an inclusive government, combating terrorism, narcotics trafficking and just promoting a common way. No, as we have said many times before, recognition is not the main topic on the table at the meeting.”
Dujarric declines discussion on recognition of the IE at a time when almost a week ago, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammad, said that in the meeting chaired by Antonio Guterres in Doha, the recognition of the Interim Government of Afghanistan is being discussed.
On the other hand, political experts believed that foreign meetings in relation to Afghanistan that are not attended by the current authorities are useless, but Dujarric still said that none of the ruling authorities in Afghanistan has been invited to the meeting.
Dujarric added: “The General Secretary did not invite the current officials of Afghanistan to participate in the meeting.”
After the IE banned female staff in the United Nations entities, there were reports that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will leave Afghanistan.
Regarding the issue, Dujarric said that they are committed to providing assistance and staying in Afghanistan, and now they are reconsidering not leaving but continuing their work.
Dujarric added: “We remain in Afghanistan, committed to providing assistance based on humanitarian principles and the United Nations Charter. Let me remind you that the political mission in Afghanistan has been extended by the Security Council and only the Security Council has endorsed the importance of extending this mandate. But how to continue our work and to take it forward is under review.”
Although the meeting related to Afghanistan will be held in Doha next Monday and Tuesday, it is not clear who has been invited.
On the other hand, it was expected that the IE would be invited and there would be discussions related to recognition, but against the expectation there is no such issue and Dujarric said that the list of participants will be disclosed soon.
