The First Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between Afghanistan and Canada was held virtually this afternoon with the participation of chairs and members of the parliamentary friendship groups in Kabul and Ottawa and with a focus on the Afghan peace process, women’s empowerment, bilateral cooperation and parliamentary linkages between the two countries.

 

Ambassador Hassan Soroosh; the Honorable Mr. Gul Ahmad Kamin, Chair of Afghanistan-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Committee in Wolesi Jirga (Lower House); the Honorable Mr. Kalemzai, Chair of the International Affairs Committee in Meshrano Jirga (Upper House) of Afghanistan; the Honorable Senator Salma Attaullahjan (Senate of Canada) and the Honorable MP Francesco Sorbara, Co-Chairs of the Canada-Afghanistan Friendship Group; the Honorable Rob Oliphant, MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada; the Honorable MP Yasmin Ratansi; the Honorable Senator Fawzia Sadat Samkani from Meshrano Jirga and the Honorable Ms. Zahra Nowruzi, Member of Wolesi Jirga spoke in this virtual meeting.

 

While sharing their concern over the recent spike in the level of violence and condemning the recent brutal attacks in Logar and other parts of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the speakers highlighted the importance of a ceasefire; the preservation of the gains of the past two decades in Afghanistan; meaningful participation of women in the peace process and continuation of cooperation and partnership between Afghanistan and Canada in important and promising areas such as education, health, human rights, women’s empowerment and security sector based on shared objectives and values.

 

The meeting was moderated by Mr. Sayed Mujtaba Ahmadi, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa.