United Nations held an international aid conference for Afghanistan. The international community looks forward to a lasting ceasefire in Afghanistan
On the 24th local time, the International Assistance Conference for Afghanistan was held at the Palais des Nations at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Representatives of 66 governments and 32 international organizations offered economic and political support for the peace process in Afghanistan.
According to United Nations statistics, the international community has pledged at least $3.3 billion for the first year of Afghanistan’s planning for the next four years, and the international community has expressed its expectation of lasting contributions to the country’s decades-long post-conflict reconstruction.
In 2015, Afghanistan began a ten-year transition period. Now more than halfway through the process, the Afghanistan International Aid Conference has attracted much attention in the face of the just start of the peace negotiations in Afghanistan and the global pandemic of the COVID-19 epidemic. In his video message, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres stressed that the achievement of the peace process will contribute to the development of the whole region, which is related to the security and dignity of millions of displaced Afghans.
“The Afghan people have suffered for years. I urge redoubled efforts to achieve an unconditional ceasefire immediately to save lives and prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.” Guterres said.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani video said, “What do the Afghan people need most? The desire for peace. Today, we, the Afghan people, the government and the international community have a vision for the establishment of a sovereign, unified and democratic Afghanistan that can live in peace with ourselves, the region and the world, and [we] have the ability to sustain and expand the gains made over the past 20 years.
In the communiqué issued after the meeting, the participants reaffirmed their long-term commitment to support the Afghan peace process. I hope that Afghanistan will seize this historic opportunity to move towards peace, prosperity and self-sufficiency.
