Activities of Secretary-General in Qatar, 1-2 May

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Doha, Qatar from New York on Monday afternoon, 1 May.

Later that day, he had the first session — a working dinner — of the meeting he hosted with special envoys on Afghanistan to reach points of commonality on key issues, such as human rights — especially for women and girls — inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking.

The purpose of the two-day meeting was to achieve a common understanding within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban on these issues.

The next morning, the Secretary-General had the second working session of the meeting, which was followed by a working lunch.

The Secretary-General then spoke at a press encounter, in which he said that he was pleased that the participants in Doha were able to enter the meeting with the unanimous Security Council resolution calling for full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General said that the spirit of unity shown in the adoption of the resolution was carried over into the meeting.  He emphasized that the meeting was about developing a common international approach, not about recognition of the de facto Taliban authorities.

The Secretary-General said that participants agreed on the need for a strategy of engagement that allows for the stabilization of Afghanistan but also allows for addressing important concerns.  He added that participants were worried about the stability of Afghanistan and expressed serious concerns about the presence of terrorist organizations and the lack of inclusivity, in particular of women and girls, and the spread of drug trafficking.

Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General departed to Nairobi, Kenya.