- News>
- Afghan Cauldron
Talks jam in Bonn over power-sharing
Rival Afghan groups negotiating a power-sharing deal in Germany were locked in intensive discussions in the early hours talks but there was no deal in sight, the United Nations and diplomats said.
Rival Afghan groups negotiating a power-sharing deal in Germany were locked in intensive discussions in the early hours talks but there was no deal in sight, the United Nations and diplomats said.
The talks are continuing, said Ahmad Fawzi, the spokesman for UN special representative Lakhdar Brahimi said. “There is nothing more I can say at this point.”
“I don't think I'll have anything more to say in the morning. Maybe later in the day (Saturday),” he added.
Fawzi had said he hoped the four groups at the talks would agree to the principles of a final accord by late Friday, and wrap up the negotiations Saturday with a comprehensive agreement. But a European Union diplomat monitoring the talks said the four afghan delegations were still a long way off from finalising the composition of just one arm of an interim authority, the parliamentary-style supreme council.
The powerful Northern Alliance appeared to be holding up the progress of the negotiations, and was still waiting for its nominees to the 120-200 member supreme council to be approved by its leadership in Kabul.
Another interim body -- a 15-20 member cabinet-style interim administration -- has yet to be discussed. Hammering out the composition of this body means tackling who gets key cabinet portfolios such as defence and interior, as well as who heads the new government. It was over-optimistic a complete agreement in this timeframe, a Northern Alliance official close to the talks said when asked if a full deal on both interim bodies could be reached by later Saturday. “We are still at the stage of discussing the council,” he added.
Bureau Report
“I don't think I'll have anything more to say in the morning. Maybe later in the day (Saturday),” he added.
Fawzi had said he hoped the four groups at the talks would agree to the principles of a final accord by late Friday, and wrap up the negotiations Saturday with a comprehensive agreement. But a European Union diplomat monitoring the talks said the four afghan delegations were still a long way off from finalising the composition of just one arm of an interim authority, the parliamentary-style supreme council.
The powerful Northern Alliance appeared to be holding up the progress of the negotiations, and was still waiting for its nominees to the 120-200 member supreme council to be approved by its leadership in Kabul.
Another interim body -- a 15-20 member cabinet-style interim administration -- has yet to be discussed. Hammering out the composition of this body means tackling who gets key cabinet portfolios such as defence and interior, as well as who heads the new government. It was over-optimistic a complete agreement in this timeframe, a Northern Alliance official close to the talks said when asked if a full deal on both interim bodies could be reached by later Saturday. “We are still at the stage of discussing the council,” he added.
Bureau Report