The Presidential Palace on Saturday said a delegation led by President Ashraf Ghani will attend the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan and will report back to the United Nations and the Afghan people on commitments government made to the nation.
The Presidential Palace said the National Unity Government (NUG) has made sound achievements and will report on these at the conference.
Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said the conference will be held at a Foreign Ministry level and representatives from 62 countries will attend.
The conference will be held on November 27 and 28 and government will report back on commitments made during Warsaw and Brussels summits, among others.
“The conference will be held at a foreign ministry level and will be attended by 62 countries. Representatives and chiefs from 35 donor organizations and international institutions will also attend,” said Chakhansuri.
Chakhansuri also said government commitments to the nation have been implemented by between 60 and 70 percent.
“On average, 50 to 60 percent of all the promises have been implemented. With the few promises that have been implemented by less than 50 percent, discussions have been held regarding the challenges and alternative options have been taken,” Chakhansuri added.
The Presidential Palace also said meetings will be held on the sidelines of the Geneva Conference on issues including peace, development, and drought.
The Presidential Palace’s remarks come after the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that currently 3.6 million people are facing famine in the country.
United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Toby Lanzer said while the Geneva Conference is a good chance for the Afghan government to show the practical steps it has taken to deliver on promises he emphasized that currently a large number of people are facing great hardship.
“The situation on the ground in Afghanistan for 3.6 million people is very very grave. They are one step away from famine,” said Lanzer.
The Geneva Conference
The Afghan government and the United Nations are expected to host the conference in Geneva on November 27 and 28 where foreign countries are expected to renew their commitment and solidarity with the Afghan people and the Afghan government in its bid to bring about peace and security.
The conference provides a platform for the Afghan government and international community to demonstrate progress and commitment, and maintain the momentum for presidential elections and opportunities for peace and security.
The conference also aims to emphasize the importance and the implementation of mutual commitments made by the Afghan government and the international community towards reform and development and in measuring results against the $15.2 billion committed by the international community for Afghanistan in 2016.
Expected Outcomes of The Summit
• A joint communiqué.
• The Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework (GMAF).
• For the Government of Afghanistan: Gain the continued confidence and support of the international community and of the Afghan people by: presenting progress and continued commitment to reform, democratic processes and development for the people of Afghanistan.
• For the United Nations: Demonstrate unflinching support and commitment to the development of Afghanistan, as a key contribution for peace and security.
• For the international partners: Showcase solidarity with Afghanistan and demonstrate to respective domestic audiences that support is leading to results in Afghanistan.
In August, the World Bank said that the Geneva conference on Afghanistan in November will be important for the country so as to ensure continued support by the international community towards Afghanistan in years to come.
Speaking to TOLOnews, World Bank country director for Afghanistan Shubham Chaudhuri said at the time that at the conference, donors will assess the performance of the National Unity Government and its programs in order to boost Afghanistan’s economic situation in the future and to improve good governance.
Earlier Tadamichi Yamamoto, the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan called on the national unity government to take solid steps towards fighting corruption, ensure holding transparent elections and finalizing the investment law in the country before the conference.
According to UNAMA, the conference will also be an opportunity to emphasize the importance of the development and reform agenda and the need to advance it as a constructive contribution to peace and security.
The Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan will be held between two pledging conferences: the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (2016) and the next pledging conference expected to be held in 2020.
