TASHKENT — In a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan declared yesterday its full readiness to create all necessary conditions for the organization of direct negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban in Uzbekistan at any stage of the peace process.

In the statement, the Uzbek government assured its willingness to continue efforts “aimed at promoting the stabilization of the situation in the country and its socio-economic development” in accordance with agreements reached during the international conference on Afghanistan, held in Tashkent on 27 March 2018,

The statement notes that over the past period, the Uzbek side held a series of consultative meetings and negotiations with the government of Afghanistan, representatives of the United States, China, Russia, member countries of the international contact group, the states of the Eurasian region, South Asia and Middle.

The Tashkent Declaration adopted unanimously during the forum on Afghanistan provides for joint actions at the regional and global levels to promote the peace process, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as regional economic cooperation.

At the same time, in order to implement the consolidated position of the participants of the Tashkent conference, the Uzbek side established appropriate contacts and held working meetings with high-level representatives of the Taliban Movement, during which the prospects of dialogue and cooperation for the establishment of long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan and its economic development were discussed.

On this basis, Uzbekistan welcomes the mutual introduction of a ceasefire between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban in connection with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The Uzbek side hopes that this truce will become indefinite, following the announcement by the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani of the extension of the ceasefire.