Peace is “not one person’s monopoly”: Abdullah

KABUL (TOLO News): Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said on Monday that peace is not one person’s monopoly, but is a collective desire.

Speaking to the council of ministers, Abdullah said that Afghanistan’s stance is clear in supporting the peace process.

“Peace is not one person’s monopoly, one person’s wish– but it is a collective desire, and the people of Afghanistan have the right to take a position regarding the peace process,” said Abdullah.

Abdullah criticized remarks suggesting that all peace efforts should be granted by the State Ministry of Peace, and added that one ministry cannot handle peace and all parties should be involved in the negotiation team.

Previously there were some remarks that peace issues should be handled by a ministry, which I think were not well-considered remarks,” Abdullah said, referring to Ghulam Abbas Yahya, deputy state minister for peace affairs, who has said that his ministry has worked as an umbrella for better coordination between the government bodies and for better management of the programs related to peace.

“The negotiation team should be a comprehensive team, including the government, but by no means can a ministry facilitate a peace process for the country,” Abdullah

Abdullah also said that there have been one-sided government-appointments and decisions that have no benefit to the country.

“These one-sided decisions and appointments are not in the interest of stability in the country,” Abdullah added.

Abdullah also said that he will continue to work until the final results of the presidential elections are announced.

“The National Unity Government will exist until the final results of the elections are announced, the National Unity Government is based on a National Unity Government agreement,” Abdullah said.