29 Mar 2024


Sputnik - Earlier in the day, foreign ministers of NATO states on Friday held a meeting in Brussels to discuss the situation in the Middle East, cooperation with the EU and relations with Russia. They also urged Iran and Russia to contribute to the peace process in Afghanistan.




NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he had discussed Russia withnew US State Secretary Mike Pompeo onFriday.
"We had a time fora short bilateral meeting this morning that was very good and very useful. We addressed both the preparations forthe upcoming summit inJuly, we addressed Russia, deterrence and defense," Stoltenberg said ata briefing.


NATO has been boosting its military presence inEurope, particularly inEastern European states, sincethe outbreak ofthe Ukrainian crisis, citing Russia's alleged interference inthat conflict asa justification forthe move.

Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations ofits involvement inthe Ukrainian conflict, while Russian authorities repeatedly said that NATO actions atthe Russian border had destabilizing character.

Call forPeace inAfghanistan
"We echo President [Ashraf] Ghani's call onregional actors tocooperate more closely onfighting terrorism and tosupport the Afghan government's peace and reconciliation efforts. In this regard, we also encourage Iran and Russia tocontribute toregional stability byfully supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process," the ministerial summit's final statement read.


The alliance also urged the Taliban movement toaccept the Afghan president's proposal, who offered inFebruary tohold peace talks withthe insurgents.
"We urge the Taliban torespond favorably tothis opportunity and participate inan Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. The responsibility tobring an end toa long era ofconflict is now inthe Taliban's hands," the statement said.


According tothe statement, NATO pledged tocontinue providing support tothe Afghan government tohelp it ensure the country's security.

Afghanistan has been experiencing significant political, social and security instability fordecades, asvarious terrorist organizations continue tostage attacks againstcivilian and military targets. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces supported bythe NATO-led units have been conducting joint operations tocombat terrorism acrossthe country.

Mission inIraq
"We also made progress inour preparations tolaunch a new training mission inIraq atthe Summit inJuly Today we agreed onthe concept ofoperations forour mission. This will include several hundred personnel. They will train Iraqi instructors, and develop Iraqi military schools," Stoltenberg said, asquoted bythe NATO press service.


The NATO chief added that the mission aimed atassisting Baghdad incounterterrorism efforts, stabilization ofIraq and prevention ofre-emergence ofthe Daesh*.

Iraq has been ina state ofinstability sincethe 2003 invasion ofthe US-led coalition that overthrew then-President Saddam Hussein. Since then, NATO has held a number oftraining missions inIraq toincrease the professionalism ofIraqi forces.

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