Replacement of women in working team denied

BONN (PAN with men, officials said on Friday.

The list came to 11 from 13 after the removal of Fawzia Kofi and Rahila Hashim from the team, which includes Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmay Rassoul, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Jawed Ludin, Asila Wardak and others.

Currently, the team is working together with Michael Steiner, Germany’s special envoy for Afghanistan, on the documents to be discussed at the conference. One source said that six women had been replaced with men.

But an Afghan official repudiated the assertion as groundless. “I reject (the claim) that 6 women have been replaced … this is not the case,” Asila Wardak, a foreign ministry official, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

She said 11 women would reach Bonn on three different flights. At least six women will be coming on the last flight, with others accompanying the working team and President Hamid Karzai, according to Wardak.

Comprised of representatives from different ministries, the team will drum up support from participants for the agenda of the major meeting on Afghanistan’s future.

At the head of the Afghan delegation, President Hamid Karzai arrive is to land at 3:30pm (Germany time) at the Boon airport’s military section. He will speak to reporters at 6:30pm.

Civilian aspects of transition until 2014, the political process in Afghanistan, as well as a long-term commitment to the country beyond 2014 are among the key issues on the agenda for the conference, bringing together more than 100 countries and international organisations.

Chaired by Afghanistan and hosted by Germany, the conference theme is From Transition to Transformation. Over 100 delegations are expected in Bonn. More than 60 delegations will be led by foreign ministers or heads of international organisations.

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