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News | Nov. 21, 2016

International forum participants discuss way forward

Resolute Support

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 20, 2016) — Representatives from international organizations, coalition embassies and other partnering agencies met at Resolute Support Mission Headquarters here Thursday to discuss regional political and economic issues impacting Afghanistan's security.

The International Issues Forum, or IIF, was hosted by Italian Brig. Gen. G. Parmiggiani, the deputy to deputy chief of staff for operations at Resolute Support. He was joined by a group of keynote and plenary speakers, discussing issues ranging from refugees to trade. 

Forums like IIF are valuable because they united the people and organizations working to create a stronger, more prosperous Afghanistan. Participants included the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, NATO's senior civilian representative, the United States Agency for International Development, the Asia Development Bank and numerous embassies. 

Throughout the forum, they covered Afghan-Pakistan border cooperation, programs assisting returnees and internally displaced persons, and economic and political development in thenorthern border region. 

"The systematic updates and awareness conversations are not only auspicious but essential for a factual understanding of Afghanistan's condition," Parmiggiani said. "The international Issues Forum is a great venue for inter-agency partnership. It provides an open environment for presentations and commentary, allowing insights and debate. It permits NATO, civilians, and international organizations to come together to discuss relevant and challenging topics about the development of Afghanistan."

These forums demonstrate NATO's interest in collaboration, and uniting the organizations with vested interest in seeing Afghanistan succeed. 

"It was a very successful forum which injected dynamism in the international community working for the future of Afghanistan," Parmiggiani concluded.

NATO continues its relationship with Afghanistan through the Resolute Support mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.