An EU-Central Asia meeting on Afghanistan was organized by EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala and EU special envoy for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson and hosted by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“EU-CA reaffirmed commitment to support Afghan people, discussed ongoing security challenges, and agreed that respect for human rights, economic stabilization is key,” the EUSR for Central Asia said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the delegation of the EU in Turkmenistan released a joint statement saying that the meeting provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on developments and the economic situation in Afghanistan and allowed for a discussion on continued cooperation in assisting the people of Afghanistan and intensification of cooperation in areas of common interest.

“During the meeting they also had an exchange with UNAMA SRSG Roza Otunbayeva and via video link with the World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan, Melinda Good, as well as World Bank Country Director for Kazakhstan, Andrei Mikhnev,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the special representatives and envoys reaffirmed their strong commitment to the people of Afghanistan and to seeing Afghanistan develop into a stable, peaceful and prosperous country with long-term prospects for lasting peace.

The participants “underlined the importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government and of upholding civil, political, social economic and cultural rights of all Afghans.”

They also urged the Islamic Emirate to lift all bans on Afghan girls and women that restrict their rights to education, work and participation in public life.

“These bans – beyond being serious human rights violations – are having detrimental effects on the ability of the international community to deliver humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, and need to be lifted for the Afghan economy to prosper, and ultimately for Afghanistan to achieve long-term stability and peace,” the statement said.

The statement also said that the envoys discussed prospects and challenges for the economic stabilization and recovery of Afghanistan. They noted the “importance of favorable conditions for economic activity, the financial and banking sector and the restoration of social-economic infrastructure in Afghanistan," which would "allow for further assistance by the international community.”

“The participants called on the Taliban to prevent the Afghan territory from being used as a safe haven for hosting, planning, training, financing or exporting terrorism and violent extremism to other countries,” the statement reads.