Youth are the most important partners in the peace process
Abdul Khaliq Balakarzai, Deputy Minister for Coordination of Tribes of the State Ministry for Peace, told the “National Youth Consensus for Peace” that the commitment and responsibility of the youth is essential to advancing the peace process, and that the youth are the most important partners in the peace process. Mr. Balakarzai also said that trusting the young generation and relying on their strength is one of the policies of the State Ministry for Peace.
Emphasizing the importance of the role of youth in peace-seeking and peace-building, the Deputy Minister for Coordination of Tribes of the State Ministry for Peace said that all Afghans want peace and therefore the State Ministry for Peace in various meetings, has collected comments and suggestions of different strata about the peace process.
Referring to the youth activities for peace, he said that according to the strategy and policy of the ministry, youth play a fundamental role in all stages of the peace process, especially in the mobilization of society for peace, peace building, to eradicate war and violence and creating national unity.
Mr. Balakarzai also said that it is the youth who can work to make peace. He pledged that the demands of the youth would be shared with the authorities.
Ata-ur-Rahman Saleem, Adviser to the High Council for National Reconciliation also said at the meeting that work for peace is not only the responsibility of peace-related officials, but any action and cooperation for peace by the partner institutions is always welcomed.
The members of the National Youth Consensus for Peace then presented a resolution on the demands and views of the youth on the peace process. They stressed that since the future of the youth depends on how the peace talks are conducted, they should participate in the talks and their role should not be ignored.
The youth also called on the government to include the demands, rights and priorities of the Afghan people, especially the youth, as irrevocable conditions in the peace agreement.
The National Youth Consensus for Peace has been established from 240 institutions for the purpose of coordination and consensus among the youth in the peace process. The members of this consensus in 34 provinces separately submitted resolutions on the peace process and then the unified version of the resolution was presented today in a meeting which was held to celebrate World Youth Day.
The meeting was attended by Abdul Khaliq Balakarzai, Deputy Minister for Coordination of Tribes, Najia Anwari, Director General for Strategic Communications, and Abdul Aziz Haidari, Director of Conferences, Events and Programs on behalf of the State Ministry Peace.
