Brussels: The European Union is suspending payments of development assistance to Afghanistan now that it has fallen to the Taliban but is weighing whether to boost humanitarian aid to the conflict-ravaged country. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says there can be no payments of development assistance until we clarify the situation with Taliban leaders.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers Tuesday, Borrell said the Taliban must respect UN Security Council resolutions and human rights to earn access to the funds. Borrell says that humanitarian help will continue, and maybe we will have an increase, given the number of displaced Afghans, the ongoing drought, and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The 27-nation bloc has pledged about 1.2 billion euros (USD 1.4 billion) in development assistance for Afghanistan for the period 2021-2024.
SOFIA:
Bulgarian leaders have signed a joint statement saying Afghans should be allowed to leave the country if they wish, the Balkan nation's foreign ministry announced on Tuesday. The statement followed an emergency meeting of a national security council called by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to discuss measures to address the increased migratory pressure on the Bulgarian-Turkish border. It noted that all temporary accommodation centres in Bulgaria are already overcrowded with migrants from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.
Bulgaria saw hundreds of thousands of migrants pass through its territory and continue to western Europe during the height of the migrant crisis. Since then, Bulgaria erected a razor-wire fence along most of its 269-kilometre border with Turkey. There is no fence on the border with Greece, but army units have been deployed occasionally to help police patrol the frontier. Bulgarian public opinion has been largely opposed to the arrival of migrants and asylum seekers during previous migrant waves.
THE HAGUE:
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says he is closely monitoring events in Afghanistan and is most concerned by recent reports of escalating violence in the country. Prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement on Tuesday that he echoes views expressed by the UN Security Council over incidents he says may amount to violations of international humanitarian law. He says they include allegations of extrajudicial executions in the form of revenge killings of detainees and individuals who surrendered, persecution of women and girls, crimes against children and other crimes affecting the civilian population at large.
The Hague-based court has already opened an investigation into crimes in Afghanistan dating back to May 2003. Khan says he calls on all parties in the country to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by ensuring the protection of civilians. I remain available and willing to engage with all parties to this end.
GENEVA:
Dozens of demonstrators have staged a rally outside the UN's Geneva compound to call for respect for women, freedom of expression, and other human rights in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power from the country's government. The demonstrators on Tuesday called for continued schooling for women and girls which was banned during the Taliban's previous rule in the late 1990s and held up banners such as We want peace and Help Afghanistan out.