Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 31 May 2022, the second meeting of the Special Representatives of the European Union and Central Asia for Afghanistan was held in Almaty. 

The participants of the meeting, expressing concern about the difficult humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, noted the importance of unfreezing the country’s international financial assets and providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan D. Lyons, Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan T. Niclasson, Special Envoy of the President of Kazakhstan for International Cooperation E. Kazykhan highly appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan to create a multifunctional transport and logistics hub for the delivery of humanitarian aid in the border city of Termez to Afghanistan, and also separately noted the activities of the Educational Center for the training of Afghan citizens in the Surkhandarya region.

During the event, international and regional efforts were discussed for the peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis, the country’s active involvement in regional integration processes, its economic recovery and the implementation of various infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

In his speech, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev focused on the main aspects of Uzbekistan’s policy towards Afghanistan, the new authorities of the country, as well as the need to establish a constructive dialogue with them.

The participants’ attention was drawn to preventing the re-creation of a vacuum in the country, which could be used by various terrorist forces as a potential threat to the countries of the region and other states.

Special Representatives of the European Union and Central Asia spoke in favor of the need for the new Afghan authorities to fulfill their promises and international obligations to create a government based on broad representation, respect the rights of women and national minorities of Afghanistan, and prevent the country’s territory from becoming a haven for international terrorists.

It was noted that today the issue of the speedy admission of Afghan girls to receive a full-fledged school education is of particular importance.

At the end of the event, the Final Statement of the participants of the meeting was adopted.