G7/G8
G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting on the Situation in Afghanistan
August 19, 2021
On August 19, during his visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes and was attended by the Foreign Ministers of all G7 countries and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
- The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State of the United Kingdom, this year's G7 Presidency, started the meeting with explaining the UK's position on the situation in Afghanistan.
- This was followed by a candid discussion among the G7 Foreign Ministers on their assessment of the current situation in Afghanistan, challenges including the evacuation of those wishing to leave the country, humanitarian assistance, human rights and counter-terrorism, as well as future prospects and other issues.
- Minister Motegi stated that the most urgent challenge is to secure the safe evacuation of all those wishing to leave Afghanistan. He also stressed that all possible efforts should be made to avoid a humanitarian crisis and that it is important to ensure the safety and freedom of access and activities for all personnel of humanitarian assistance organization within Afghanistan. He also pointed out that it is important to cooperate with a wide range of countries, including neighboring countries, in terms of regional stability and counter-terrorism. The Ministers affirmed that they will continue working closely together.