Afghanistan meet to take place in Ankara

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Marc Grossman, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is among the participants of the Afghanistan Contact Group meeting. AP photo

The International Contact Group (ICG) for Afghanistan will hold a meeting in Ankara tomorrow.

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman is among participants of the meeting, which will be chaired by Germany. The meeting will focus on the status of Afghan and international commitments on security and development following the Chicago NATO summit and the Tokyo Conference. The contact group member countries also plan to discuss international support for transition planning and an Afghan-led political process.

Germany’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Michael Koch will also participate to the meeting. “The International Contact Group plays a basic role in solving problems in Afghanistan. In this context, Turkey and Germany work together for a better future in Afghanistan,” Koch said in a written statement.

The U.S. State Department said Ambassador Grossman would travel on to Islamabad after the meeting in Ankara.

Another meeting concerning Afghanistan’s “Istanbul process” will be held in Ankara today on the technical level with the participation of 30 countries. Attendees will review efforts to enhance confidence-building measures for Afghanistan as designated by the Istanbul Process.