John Kerry Visits Brussels

By Brussels correspondent

High Representative Catherine Ashton is meeting the US Secretary of State John Kerry who is going to host a meeting  at NATO headquarters with top Afghan and Pakistani leaders in an attempt to foster cooperation over the reconciliation process with the Taliban and a number of other international issues as Middle East peace process, Iranian nuclear program and North Korea. A statement of the HR Ashton is expected shortly after the meeting.

On contrary to Asthton’s discretion Secretary Kerry is eloquent about his ambitious plans.“This is the year of transition,” Mr. Kerry told a gathering of American diplomats here, referring to NATO’s plans to progressively hand over the responsibility for security by the end of 2014. “This is the critical year in Afghanistan.”He added, “We are going to have a trilateral and try to talk about how we can advance this process in the simplest, most cooperative, most cogent way so that we wind up with both Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s interests being satisfied — but most importantly with a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

”The meeting will be held the day after NATO foreign ministers gather to discuss the alliance’s role in Afghanistan after 2014, among other issues.President Hamid Karzai and Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi will represent the Afghan side. Pakistan will be represented by Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Army chief, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan’s foreign secretary.Mr. Karzai has complained that Pakistan is not helping to bring the Taliban into the political reconciliation process, a charge Pakistan denies.

The tense relationship between Mr. Karzai and General Kayani has been seen as an obstacle in efforts to ensure Afghan stability ahead of national elections next year. Pakistan’s cooperation is also critical as the United States seeks to negotiate an agreement with the Afghan government that would allow some American forces to operate in the country after 2014.

The other meeting of Secretary Kerry with the EU high official president Barroso is planned in the afternoon, with the focus on the EU-US trade relations.