Interafghan Peace Conference Continues In Bonne

Afghan participants in the peace conference in Bonne are unanimous that former king of Afghanistan Zahir Shah has the leading role in the future of Afghanistan, a diplomatic source in the conference lobby informed RIA Novosti. At the same time, according to the source, differences may appear in the course of nominating head of the future government of Afghanistan and distributing portfolios of the key ministries - defence, interior and finance. The talks are expected to be hot, the source noted. The day before representatives of Afghan delegate groups hold bilateral talks with UN commissioner for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi, proceeding from the UN five-point plan spearheaded at establishing a stable government in Afghanistan. According to political experts, one of the main themes to be discussed at the conference should be a military component of the peace process. The idea of creating an international contingent with UN mandate is also on the agenda. Apart from the participants in the conference, i.e. 32 Afghan delegates and 11 UN mediators, representatives of 18 countries, including member-states of the UN Security Council and the European Union, are observing the forum's work.