Thursday, December 6 2018 10:28

ArmInfo.Armenia attaches importance to the efforts and the progress achieved by the Afghan Government to advance the reforms on a wide-range of areas and to  strengthen the state institutions, as well as to build and  consolidate democracy, the acting Foreign Minister of Armenia stated  in his remarks on December 5, in Brussels at the Ministerial meeting  of the NATO member and non- member states participating in Resolute  Support Mission.

As the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs, in his  speech the acting Minister stressed that recent Parliamentary  elections in Afghanistan were benchmark in this regard. "We are  hopeful that the Presidential elections in 2019 will further help  consolidate the political and institutional reforms in Afghanistan.  Nevertheless, there is still much to be accomplished, in order to  make the progress sustainable and more importantly - irreversible.  Recent security related incidents remind us of the challenges that  Afghanistan continues to face. They underline the necessity of  concerted actions for eradicating the scourge of terrorism and  depriving it of the breeding ground. Effective, professional, and  self-sustaining Afghan forces remain essential for providing security  for the country", Mnatsakanyan said. 

The Acting Foreign Minister also stated that Armenia reiterates its  support to the Afghan- led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process  and underlines that the negotiated political settlement is the only  pathway to a durable and sustainable resolution of the conflict.  Armenia emphasizes the importance of the inclusion of women in the  peace process in line with the UN Security Council resolution 1325.  We welcome the engagement of the Gender Adviser in the Resolute  Support Mission for providing counsel and assistance on professional  development, as well as safe and meaningful integration of women in  the Afghan Security Forces. The peace and stability in Afghanistan is  important first of all for its people. At the same time, it also  stands as a test for the ability of the international community to  address the security challenges collectively.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan recalled that Armenia has been contributing to  peace operation in Afghanistan since February 2010, first as a part  of ISAF and then within of the Resolute Support Mission. "I want to  underline the effective cooperation established between Armenia and  Germany, as one of the best examples of partnership in peace  operations.  We will continue to contribute to the international  efforts in consolidation of peace and security in Afghanistan. As  Armenia reaffirmed at the NATO Brussels Summit in July 2018, the  Armenian contingent will continue its duty with Resolute Support  Mission throughout 2019 with up to 130 servicemen. Two weeks ago the  acting minister of defense of Armenia visited Afghanistan where he  had a number of meeting with the top security officials and visited  the Armenian contingent. The continuation of efforts in helping  Afghan people to build safe and secure future remains an important  item on the agenda of the Government of Armenia. ?

The Resolute Support Mission was launched at the invitation of the  Afghan government and in accordance with the United Nations Security  Council Resolution 2189 of 2014.