KABUL – Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar held a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Luigi Di Maio, covering issues of bilateral interest, including the latest developments and challenges in the Afghan peace process.
The Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that increased coordination and building consensus between Afghanistan and its regional and international partners around the peace process, reduction of violence, and ensuring a comprehensive ceasefire in the country were among the top priorities of the government of Afghanistan for the second round of negotiations in Qatar.
Paying tribute to Italy’s continued assistance as a strategic partner and a steadfast supporter of the Afghan people in the areas of security, justice, health, education, infrastructure and development, Mr. Atmar hailed the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Italy due to be celebrated on June 3rd, 2021.
The Italian Foreign Minister said that Kabul could count on Italy’s support regarding human rights, women’s rights, and the rule of law, assuring Mr. Atmar of Italy’s continued support for development cooperation, counterterrorism and peace-building efforts in Afghanistan. The two sides stressed on preserving the key democratic gains of the past two decades and ensuring that Afghanistan is never used as a safe haven by terrorist outfits in the future.
