TOKYO, Nov. 22, 2009 (Kyodo News International) -- A three-day international meeting on the promotion of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan began Monday in Tokyo under the sponsorship of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, an international alliance of religious groups, and with the cooperation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Discussions are expected to center on how to bring about dialogue and peace negotiations with the Taliban militants, diplomatic sources said, although details of the talks will not be disclosed so as to protect the participants' safety as well as to secure free debate.
The conclusion of the discussions, however, will be conveyed to the Foreign Ministry and will be reflected in Japan's mid- and long-term policies for assisting the war-torn country, the sources said.
Tokyo has promised up to $5 billion in nonmilitary aid for Afghanistan over the next five years in exchange for ending its mission in the Indian Ocean to refuel warships supporting U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the country.
The participants are from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Japan as well as the European Union. Among them are Masoom Stanekzai, an adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on peace negotiations with the Taliban; Tadashi Inuzuka, a House of Councillors member from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan; and Kenji Isezaki, former Japanese special representative in Kabul for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
If the participants reach an agreement through the discussions, they will bring forward a proposal to Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, and issue a statement at a press conference on the final day of the meeting, the sources said.
