UNAMA welcomes second round of peace talks

 

Kabul, JAN 5 - The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday welcomed the peace negotiator’s return to Doha for the resumption of talks between the government and the Taliban teams.

In a statement issued, UNAMA stated that these negotiations are critical in helping to bring about an end to the fighting and creating lasting peace. “The negotiators are confronted with some daunting challenges and much work remains. But the two teams cooperated well in the historic first round of talks that commenced in September, making incremental but genuine progress. They agreed a code of conduct for future negotiations and exchanged draft agenda items before taking a 20-day recess for consultations with their constituents and leadership,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA, Deborah Lyons stated: “I urge both sides to use this opportunity to move ahead to create the conditions for a reduction in violence that will end further loss of Afghan lives and reach a political settlement that is acceptable to all segments of Afghan society.”

“A cessation in fighting would create a better atmosphere for talks, provide hope to the people, and allow humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed winter assistance to Afghans across the whole country,” she noted. The UN will remain in close contact with both parties and, as the Secretary-General said at the opening of the talks in September, stands ready to assist as necessary, the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the Afghan negotiating team earlier left Kabul for Doha where they will resume the second round of peace negotiations that are expected to focus on the ceasefire and a reduction in violence.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad also arrived in Afghanistan to discuss peace process issues with high-ranking government officials.

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