Brussels Conference on Afghanistan: International community confirms continued support for and engagement in Afghanistan’s future
Day Two of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (#AfghanConf) began this morning with over 70 countries and 20 international organisations and agencies coming together under the patronage of the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani (opening statements available here).
The morning session was co-chaired by the High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini on behalf of the European Union and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Salahuddin Rabbani.
In her opening statement, High Representative Mogherini highlighted that: “Change has been possible first and foremost thanks to the efforts of the Afghan people, but it also owes a lot to the unique and extraordinary support provided by the international community. Today we renew our commitment to stand on the side of the Afghan people, to counter the forces that oppose growth and reconciliation, and to keep sustaining progress. The main objective of today’s conference is that we commit to supporting Afghanistan at or near the current levels until 2020.”
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon and the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, also addressed the Conference in the opening session. A number of other bilateral meetings are also taking place in the margins of the Conference.
