Federica Maria Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is visiting Kabul, said the EU strongly supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and that achievements of Afghanistan should be preserved in this process.
Addressing a press conference with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul on Tuesday, Mogherini said the European Union has always been on the side of Afghan people.
“It is a pleasure for me to meet Dr. Abdullah and finally back to Kabul at the critical moment for the country and to express the full support of the European Union to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process,” Mogherini said.
“The European Union has always been on the side of Afghan people with no other agenda than peace, security, human rights, rural development for the country and we will continue to do so,” she reiterated.
Mogherini also said that the European Union is trying to guarantee with international and regional partners that the achievements made in Afghanistan are preserved in the peace process.
“Trying to guarantee together with our international and regional partners first and foremost that the process belongs to the Afghan people and the Afghan institutions and that there is no step backwards when it comes to democracy, the constitutional setup and especially human rights, rule of law and all the achievements that have been gained especially for the Afghan women, for the children and minorities in the country,” Mogherini stressed.
The EU envoy said the European Union will also support the upcoming Presidential elections in Afghanistan.
“The European Union would be at your side in this process also in the perpetration of presidential elections,” Mogherini added.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah thanked the European Union for its support and financing to elections in the past.
“The European Union has been one of the major donors (for Afghan elections). Afghanistan is committed to holding presidential and other elections and the people of Afghanistan expect transparent and fair elections,” Abdullah said.
He added that National Unity Government is committed to peace and that there is also international support in this regard.
“The European Union can play its role at various stages, and we welcome your role,” Abdullah added.
Mogherini’s visit to Kabul comes after she visited Pakistan on Monday.
