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The Embassy of Afghanistan in Berlin

The Ambassador

Amb. Yama Yari

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As recognized by the International Community, Amb. Yama Yari is the Ambassador of of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since July 2020. Most recently he served as the Minister of Transport (2018-2020), Minister of Public Works (2017-2018). He also served as founder and Director General of the National Procurement Authority (2014-2017).

Ambassador Yari was born (1982) in Herat, Afghanistan, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He went to the United Kingdom in 1999 where he completed his tertiary and higher education. Ambassador Yari holds a Master of Science Degree in Engineering & Business Management from the renowned Imperial College London, and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Brighton, UK. He was the recipient of the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Prize for his outstanding performance in Civil Engineering studies.

History

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Afghanistan and Germany have a long history of relations. In 2015 the two countries celebrated 100 years of friendly relations, which began in 1915 with the establishment of initial contacts between the governments of the German Reich and the Emirate of Afghanistan. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were officially established in 1922. The German Embassy was re-opened in December 2001, initially as a German liaison office after the fall of the Taliban regime. Soon after, in January 2002, the German Ambassador was the first head of mission to present his credentials to the new Interim Administration. In addition, the German Consulate-General in Mazar-i-Sharif commenced work in June 2013.

Both countries established diplomatic relations to focus their work on cooperation and reconstruction projects. Immediately after the fall of the Taliban regime, two ground-breaking conferences on the future of Afghanistan were held at the Petersberg guest house near Bonn in late 2001 and 2002. At the 2004 Berlin Conference, the international community reiterated its long-term commitment to Afghanistan.

On 5 December 2011, ten years after the first Petersberg Conference, Germany once again hosted an International Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn. The key message of the conference was that the international community should not and would not abandon Afghanistan, even after the termination of NATO’s ISAF combat mission at the end of 2014.On 16 May 2012, Federal Chancellor Merkel and President Karzai signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation between Germany and Afghanistan. This partnership agreement regulates Germany’s long-term relations with Afghanistan.

The resumption of cultural relations in 2002 was able to draw on a well-established network of dedicated Germans and Afghans and the traditional cooperation between schools, universities and other cultural institutions has been revived. To mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Germany and Afghanistan, an Afghan Cultural Week was held in Berlin in December 2015. The programme, which was designed to appeal to young people, featured numerous events showcasing a country engaged in a process of transition and embarking on a new era.

Today the German Ministery for Economic Cooperation and Development states that “Afghanistan has become one of the biggest humanitarian emergencies worldwide”. Since August 2021, when the US Army left the country and the Taliban took power the situation has rapidly deteriorated. The new government, not recognized by the international community, the covid-19 pandemic and extreme weather conditions have plunged the population to a never seen condition of poverty. If in the past years, the international community and humanitarian actions have sustained the fragile economy, today their abrupt departure has created a shocking void.