Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Terens Quick represented Greece at the Global Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan which was held in Geneva by the UN. The subject of the meeting was Peace and Security in Afghanistan, in conjunction with growth and investments, the necessary protection and upgrading of the role of women, and the signature of the European Union Agreement with Afghanistan for financing of developmental and humanitarian actions. A joint announcement is expected to be issued which will declare the International Community's commitment for supporting peace and the future of the country.
During his intervention at the Special Session that pertained to liberating the potential of women in Afghanistan, Mr. Quick, addressing the spouse of the country's President, Rula Ghani, who presided over the Proceedings, emphasised the following:
“Societies, countries, which ignore, underestimate, marginalise, perpetrate violence against women, lose a significant element which is also directly related with growth, which is such a necessary tool for prosperity. This pertains also to Afghanistan, which is the subject of our UN meeting here in Geneva. Nobody, for any reason whatsoever, shall fail to provide to women protection of all their rights, such as the undisturbed access to education and employment; yet another diptych which today concerns the special session, this Global Ministerial Conference of the United Nations.”
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated in the Special Session which was presided over by the President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, on the economic growth of the country with the aid of an international private initiative.
On the margins of the Conference, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs held bilateral talks with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Adela Raz. The discussion centred around the immigration/refugee issue, the establishment of peace and security in the country, and the related inter-state developmental initiatives and coalitions.
Upon conclusion of the proceedings, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with members of the Greek Community residing in Geneva, where issues pertaining mainly to education and cultural actions were discussed. Finally, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Metropolitan Maximos of Switzerland, who gave him a tour of the Centre for Philological Studies in Chambésy, Geneva.
November 29, 2018