Istanbul Regional Conference demands secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and region

ISTANBUL, 2 November 2011: The Istanbul Regional Conference held here on Wednesday adopted a declaration envisaging a broad range of effective Confidence Building Measures to promote a secure and stable Afghanistan in a secure, stable and prosperous region. According to the declaration adopted by 11 ministers besides representatives of 29 neighbouring countries of Afghanistan known as Heart of Asian Countries, they also agreed on a number of CBMs in political and security, economic, educational and cultural fields. The Istanbul Regional Conference jointly hosted by Turkey and Afghanistan also envisages guarantees of territorial integrity, sovereignty and refraining from the threat or use of force to resolve disputes.
The participants also discussed guarantees for non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.
The conference was addressed by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and representatives of neighbouring and regional countries.
According to declaration adopted in the conference, the participants reaffirmed their desire for enhanced cooperation for fighting terrorism, including through exchange of information.
The document emphasized the need for cooperation and interaction with Afghanistan and among regional countries in counter-narcotics and trafficking of illegal goods a lethal substance.
In the economic field, it called for building on the model of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to expand trade across the region and development of a coherent strategy to promote a regionally coherent trade and border management.
It called for Preferential Trade Agreement within the region, establishment of databases and a system of data exchange in trade and economic spheres; improvement of exchange of information on commercial opportunities and improvement in the provisions for the settlement of commercial disputes.
It emphasized the need for a strategy to encourage participation of the private sector in regional development programmes and exchange of information on development of international tourism and tourist infrastructure.
The joint declaration aimed at encouraging the establishment of a framework for enhanced cooperation among chambers of commerce; training of personnel in various fields of economic activity and a strategy to develop a regionally connecting infrastructure.
The conference supported cooperation on easier flow of energy resources and in this context expressed support for TAPI and CASA-1000 projects which should be implemented with a broader financial contribution by World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
It also called for exploring the possibility of developing hydroelectric power in the region and cooperation in water resources besides development of large-scale irrigation works.
It also supported a more effective regional cooperation in the agricultural and rural fields and development of infrastructure around main ports of the region.
In the realm of education, the conference called for setting up a structured regional education exchange programme, emphasis on science, expansion of links among educational institutions of the regional countries and removal of hatred references from curriculum.
It called for promotion of mass media as a driver for democratic development and mutual understanding and establishment of a multi-disciplinary professional and technical training centre in Tajikistan.On culture side, it envisaged joint projects aimed at disseminating information on various cultures and traditions in the region, preservation of archaeological sites, and joint efforts to promote the true nature of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and human accomplishment. It called for promotion of inter-faith and intra-cultural dialogue.The conference called for relaxation of visa regimes and relaxation of rules and restrictions at border crossings for legitimate travelers.As a follow up on the Istanbul Conference, a decision has been taken to meet at ministerial level in Kabul in June next year. Kabul meeting would be preceded by a preparatory meeting at technical level.
The conference reaffirmed the commitments enshrined in the Kabul Declaration of Good Neighbourly Relations and agreed to promote regional security and cooperation with a view to build confidence and trust among the countries of the region.
It also agreed that Afghanistan and its regional partners will have to develop and coordinate contribution to advance the principles of United Nations.
The conference recognized Afghanistan’s role as the land bridge in the Heart of Asia, connecting South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East and reaffirmed the support in the strongest possible terms to secure, stable and peaceful future of Afghanistan.
The conference welcomed Afghanistan’s willingness and determination to use its regional and historical position to do its part to promote security and peaceful economic cooperation in the region. 
The conference also recognized Afghanistan as a sovereign, independent, democratic state with inviolable borders, which constitutes an integral component of the peace, well being and prosperity of the region.
The conference extended its support to the government of Afghanistan’s priorities on the issues of security, governance, economy, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and regional cooperation.
Through joint declaration, the conference recognized Afghanistan’s determination not to let its territory be ever again a safe haven for terrorists, terrorism and illicit drugs.
It also appreciated Afghanistan’s commitment to respect the territorial integrity of its neighbours and to ensure them that its relations with any state, will not be directed against any third party.
The conference also appreciated Afghanistan’s commitment and determination to combat terrorism in all its forms.
The conference also assured full support and cooperation to Afghanistan to counter the threat posed by the illicit production, trafficking, and consumption of drugs originating in Afghanistan.
The Istanbul Regional Conference assured its readiness to engage in sincere, result-oriented cooperation at the regional level, which will not just help Afghanistan but will also be beneficial to security and prosperity in the region as a whole.
It also appreciated the importance of regional organizations, bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral initiatives among different countries of the region that contributes to the improvement of regional cooperation and extended its full support to these initiatives.

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