EU welcomes US decision to talk to Taliban

The European Union Wednesday welcomed the announcement by the US that it would start direct talks with the Taliban at their office in the Qatari capital, Doha. "We welcome the announcement that signaled a better future for Afghanistan, " Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton told journalists. She added that the EU supports all efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict under Afghan leadership and in line with the criteria set at the Bonn conference. Kocijanic declined to comment if the EU itself will participate in the talks with Taliban but added that EU foreign ministers during their meeting next week will discuss Afghanistan.