PM calls with Afghan Presidential candidates and Chancellor Merkel and President Van Rompuy
David Cameron spoke to Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Chancellor Merkel and European Council President Van Rompuy.
Calls with Afghan Presidential candidates Dr Ghani and Dr Abdullah
A Number 10 spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister made calls to both Afghan presidential candidates, Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah, earlier this afternoon about their ongoing negotiations to form a Government.
The Prime Minister urged both to continue to work through the process set out by US Secretary of State John Kerry and to form a unity government as quickly as possible.
He emphasised the enormous prize at stake for the Afghan people - to secure their democratic future - and that he hoped that the process could be completed by the NATO Summit.
The Prime Minister said that the Summit represented an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in Afghanistan over the last 10 years and to look at how NATO allies could work with the new government to support Afghanistan in the future.
Both Dr Abdullah and Dr Ghani welcomed the Prime Minister’s support and thanked him for the UK’s ongoing commitment to Afghanistan.
Calls with Chancellor Merkel of Germany and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy
A Number 10 spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister has made more calls to European leaders ahead of this weekend’s European Council.
Yesterday, he called Chancellor Merkel to discuss the agenda for the summit, particularly the appointment of the new Council President and High Representative; and the situation in Eastern Ukraine.
On the appointments, they agreed that there are a number of credible candidates for both roles. The Prime Minister emphasised that it is important that the next Council President is willing to work with Britain to address our concerns in the coming years.
On Ukraine, both leaders agreed that Saturday’s European Council should address the ongoing situation in Eastern Ukraine, including Russia’s provocative actions.
Both leaders agreed that there could be no military solution to the crisis and President Putin had to enter into negotiations in good faith to find a political solution.
The Prime Minister also spoke to President Van Rompuy yesterday afternoon about the summit, including the appointment of the new Council President and High Representative and the situation in Ukraine, on which they agreed that the EU should continue to put pressure on President Putin to deescalate the situation.
They also agreed that leaders should address the situation in Iraq and Syria and how the EU can help to co-ordinate national responses, including efforts to tackle foreign fighters.