(Chicago) – H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister has stressed that the UAE is seeking to promote peace through direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taleban.
Addressing a meeting of NATO’s 25th summit meeting and leaders of 19 countries participating in the ISAF, he stressed that the UAE is committed to back transferring security responsibility to the Afghans as Afghan security forces are moving to take over the leadership.
Sheikh Abdullah expressed his thanks during the meeting which was also attended by US President Barack Obama and NATO leaders, to those men and women who assisted in reaching to this strategic decision, and to achieve security in Afghanistan.
For his part US President Barack Obama said: “Now, the presence of so many leaders and nations illustrates once again that this is a truly international mission. And that’s because the region and the world have a profound interest in an Afghanistan that is stable, that is secure, and that is not a source of attacks on other nations.”
He welcomed President Karzai’s participation in the meeting and stressed that all have agreed upon the transitional phase in Afghanistan and handing over the whole responsibility to Afghani authorities.
The UAE’s delegation to the summit included H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, Major General H.E. Faris Al Mazrouei, Assistant Foreign Minister for the Security and Military Affairs and H.E. Mohammad Ali Mohammed Al Naqbi, UAE Ambassador to Nato.