EU Presidency Declaration on the opening of the Loya Jirga in Kabul

The Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, expresses its sincerest wishes for the successful outcome of the constitutional Loya Jirga in Afghanistan. The European Union hopes that the new Constitution will be pluralistic and based on Universal Human Rights, including equal rights for men and women.

The approval of the constitution - which represents a fundamental step in the peace process established by the Bonn Agreement - will also be the foundation of a future of peace and prosperity for the Afghan people. To such a goal the European Union reconfirms its full commitment.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.

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• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)
• EP - Afghanistan - MEPs call for action on civil liberties and women's rights (12/2/2004)
• Commissioner Patten's Speech on 'Afghanistan, the road to Bonn' at the EP (12/2/2004)
• GAERC Draft Council conclusions on Afghanistan  (26/1/2004)
• EU Presidency declaration on the approval of a constitution for Afghanistan (6/1/2004)
• EUHR Solana welcomes adoption of new Afghan Constitution (5/1/2004)