Iran’s Zarif to Attend 2020 Afghanistan Conference
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will take part in the virtual 2020 Afghanistan Conference, a quadrennial ministerial pledging conference co-hosted by Afghanistan, Finland, and the United Nations.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh announced on Monday that Zarif is going to attend the virtual meeting.
The 2020 Afghanistan Conference takes place on November 23 and 24.
The quadrennial pledging conference is an important opportunity for Afghanistan and the international community to commit to common objectives for promoting sustainable development, prosperity and peace in the country, according to UNAMA.
A central aim of the conference is to determine shared development objectives and commitments for the period 2021–24 for the Afghan government and the international community.
The shared development objectives will guide development cooperation and provide financial support for Afghanistan. In addition to the pledges of financial support, a new development framework, a joint political declaration and a new aid architecture supporting Afghanistan’s development needs and priorities are the anticipated outcomes of the conference.
The conference plenary will take place on November 24, with side events on November 23. The conference is expected to bring together more than 70 countries, international organizations and agencies, as well as civil society representatives. It was last held in 2016 in Brussels and in Tokyo in 2012.
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference will take place virtually, with the Palais des Nations in Geneva remaining as the hub for all logistics.
