General Assembly Session 55 meeting 86

The President

As indicated in document A/55/108, since the terms of office of Argentina, the Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, Georgia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lesotho will expire on 21 December 2000, it is necessary for the President of the General Assembly to appoint, during the current session, seven members to fill the resulting vacancies. The members so appointed will serve for a period of three years beginning on 1 January 2001.

After consultations with the Chairmen of the groups of African States, Asian States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as Western European and other States, I have appointed Argentina, Benin, Finland, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Peru and Sierra Leone as members of the Committee on Conferences, with effect from 1 January 2001.

May I take it that the Assembly takes note of these appointments?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 17?

The President

It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly.

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the provisional agenda of the fifty-sixth session?

The President

This concludes our consideration of agenda item 49.

The President

I give the floor to the representative of Germany to introduce draft resolution A/55/L.62/Rev.1.

Mr. Kastrup (Germany)

I am pleased to introduce a draft resolution on Afghanistan under items 46 and 20 (d) of the agenda. As in previous years, more than 80 countries participated in the negotiations. I should like to thank them all for their valuable contributions and considerable efforts, which have helped to shape the text that is presented today. I would also like to express my gratitude to all countries that have sponsored this draft resolution.

I should like to announce that since the publication of the draft resolution, the following countries have become sponsors: Brazil, Egypt, the Dominican Republic and Peru.

Our intention during the negotiation of the draft resolution was to maintain the consensus it has enjoyed in previous years. However, this year it was particularly difficult to obtain consensus, as countries strongly differed in their assessment of the Secretary-General's report of 20 November 2000 on the situation in Afghanistan.

Germany, for one, fully supports all paragraphs of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. As mediator and facilitator, however, we realized that this year no consensus was possible on a draft resolution which included the full endorsement of the Secretary-General's report. In addition, important sponsors of last year's resolution felt they had to change their position within days. Other important sponsors of last year's resolution seriously considered withdrawing their sponsorship.

Our reluctance to follow the requests of several delegations not to endorse the report was ultimately overcome when Mr. Francesc Vendrell, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, informed us that he strongly favoured consensus. Mr. Vendrell stressed that he needed the cooperation of all countries and parties on the ground. As it has always been our intention to strengthen and support the work of the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, his opinion paved the way for consensus. Today we are again in a position to present a draft resolution which sends a strong message to the warring Afghan parties and to all States concerned that it is the will of the international community that peace return to Afghanistan.

I share the view of the Secretary-General that the year 2000 has been an exceptionally difficult year for Afghans. Despite repeated international appeals by the Security Council and the General Assembly not to launch military offensives, both Afghan parties continued fighting. They still seem to believe, against all evidence to the contrary, in a military solution.

Exactly one year ago, I called on both Afghan parties to focus their energies on the search for peace and on the reconstruction of their country. Unfortunately, they did not heed my call. The offensives launched by the Taliban in the summer of this year aggravated the already serious humanitarian and human rights situation. This has led to the massive loss of human lives; refugee flows; harassment; the forcible displacement of innocent civilians, in particular women and children; and the arbitrary detention of civilians.

In view of this grave situation, the draft resolution once again calls upon all Afghan parties to immediately cease all armed hostilities, to renounce the use of force and to engage in a political dialogue under United Nations auspices. With all due caution, we welcome the agreement reached by the Taliban and the United Front on 2 November to enter into a process of dialogue without preconditions in order to bring to an end the Afghan conflict by political means. We wish Mr. Vendrell all success and the good luck he needs to implement this agreement, which is purely procedural in nature and which can only constitute a first step on a long road towards peace.

It is not unknown that the fighting in Afghanistan is prolonged by the foreign military support the Afghan parties receive. On the side of each warring faction there is continued foreign involvement. There is not only a supply of arms, ammunition and military equipment, but also the presence and involvement of foreign military personnel on the ground. The draft that is being introduced today strongly condemns the continuing foreign military support to the Afghan parties and calls upon all States to take resolute measures to prohibit their military personnel from planning and participating in combat operations in Afghanistan, to immediately withdraw their personnel and to ensure that the supply of ammunition and other war-making materials is halted. I shall not mince words: it is this form of interference by certain Governments in the internal affairs of Afghanistan that enables and encourages both factions to pursue their military aims. Unless this interference is stopped, the current Afghan struggle will continue.

In accordance with previous resolutions on Afghanistan, this draft reiterates that the main responsibility for a peaceful solution to the conflict lies with the Afghan parties. It also reiterates that the United Nations must continue to play the central role in international efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict. The United Nations has to facilitate the political process leading towards the goal of national reconciliation and a lasting political settlement in which all parties to the conflict in all segments of Afghan society have to participate.

Germany has always supported the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan with a view to ensuring the Mission's primary role in the United Nations peacekeeping activities in Afghanistan. We hope that these activities will lead to a durable ceasefire and to the formation of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government. Two years ago the General Assembly's resolution on Afghanistan endorsed the Secretary-General's proposal to establish a separate Civil Affairs Unit within the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA). The Unit's primary objective was to deter grave violations of human rights and to promote respect for minimum humanitarian standards in the future. Today we welcome the deployment of UNSMA's Civil Affairs Unit to six cities in Afghanistan. We also welcome the ongoing dialogue on political and human rights issues with high-ranking representatives of local and regional authorities of both Afghan sides.

Germany supports the intention of the Secretary-General to strengthen the political capacity of UNSMA and to increase the number of its military advisers. We also support the activities of groups of interested States, in particular the "six plus two" group, to use their influence in a constructive manner to promote peace in Afghanistan. We welcome the various peace initiatives of non-United Nations actors, including those of various non-warring Afghan parties and independent Afghan personalities, calling for an end to the fighting.

It is indeed a very sad duty to report to the Assembly that, once again, our hopes for an improvement of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan have been in vain. On the contrary, the situation continued to deteriorate in 2000. Twenty-one years of uninterrupted armed conflict have created dismal socio-economic conditions for the large majority of the Afghan population. We are once again distressed to see that this year's summer offensive led to further needless and deliberate destruction of means of livelihood and of infrastructure, thereby creating new flows of refugees and internally displaced persons. In addition, the country is now facing the worst drought in recent history. The effects of the drought are expected to become even more severe in 2001 and will affect about 12 million Afghans, 3 million to 4 million severely. The war, the drought, searing poverty and a dysfunctional economy with mass unemployment, aggravated by a lack of even the most basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, will place Afghanistan at the very bottom of the scale in terms of human development next year.

In this context, please allow me to stress the vital importance of continued humanitarian assistance by the international community for the Afghan population, and the central role that the United Nations and its agencies play in the provision of aid to that country. Germany commends the United Nations for its efforts in Afghanistan, but remains, at the same time, deeply concerned about the conditions under which humanitarian assistance has to be delivered in the country. Though some progress has been made in the past year, acts of interference by the warring parties and restricted access to affected populations remain a serious matter of concern. This draft resolution stresses the importance that the international community attaches to having all the warring parties show greater respect for the rights of all civilians to humanitarian assistance.

Germany is also deeply worried about the continuing threats to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn recent acts of violence and intimidation against United Nations personnel, in particular the brutal murder of seven Afghan employees of the United Nations-supported mine awareness programme by unidentified gunmen. In this respect, we call upon the Taliban authorities to fully respect and implement the Supplementary Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding on the security of United Nations personnel.

Unfortunately, this year we again received new reports on the ongoing use of landmines in Afghanistan. We deeply deplore this practice. Germany attaches highest priority to the complete halt of landmine usage. The contamination of large areas by landmines and unexploded ordinance causes unnecessary suffering and constitutes a major hindrance to the recovery and development of Afghanistan and a serious impediment to the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced people.

Germany remains deeply concerned about the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, notably in areas under control of the Taliban. Gender discrimination continues to be systematically applied. In this respect, we condemn the decree issued in July by the Taliban authorities restricting the employment of women by the United Nations, with the exception of the health sector. Though it has not been fully implemented, this draft resolution strongly rejects the decree on a matter of principle. The draft resolution also states very clearly that the international community does not accept the exclusion of women and girls from public life. At the same time, we note reports by the United Nations organizations in Afghanistan that some progress was made concerning the access of women and girls to education and health care. The situation, however, is far from satisfactory. We therefore encourage all parties, in particular the Taliban, to make further steps towards granting women their internationally guaranteed basic rights.

The conflict in Afghanistan has international implications for the neighbouring countries, as well as far beyond the region. Let me summarize the messages of this draft resolution.

First, we ask both Afghan factions to stop fighting immediately and to engage in a political dialogue without delay and preconditions.

Secondly, we ask all countries involved in the conflict to stop their military support to all sides to the conflict.

Thirdly, we ask all Afghan factions to stop the gross violations of human rights, in particular with regard to women and girls.

Fourthly, the continuing illegal drug activities in Afghanistan and the trafficking of illegal drugs from Afghanistan, often in association with arms trafficking and other criminal activities, present a substantial threat to neighbouring countries and have serious negative implications in other parts of the world. This draft therefore welcomes the adoption of a Regional Action Plan by the "six plus two" group aimed at eliminating illicit drug production in and drug trafficking from Afghanistan and strongly calls upon all Afghan parties to halt all illegal drug activities.

Fifthly, Afghan territory continues to be used to shelter and train terrorists. The Taliban continue to provide a safe haven to international terrorists, including Usama bin Laden. They also continue to allow him and others associated with him to operate a network of terrorist training camps and to use Afghanistan as the base from which to sponsor international terrorist operations. Germany deplores the Taliban's failure to comply with Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) one year after its adoption. Today, the Security Council is about to impose tighter sanctions against the Taliban. Following this line, the draft of this General Assembly resolution strongly demands that the Taliban refrain from providing safe haven to international terrorists, cease the recruitment of terrorists, close down terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan and take effective measures to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to sponsor international terrorist operations.

Sixthly, the humanitarian situation, aggravated by the worst draught in 30 years and by the destruction and criminalization of the economy, has deteriorated so dramatically that, as the Secretary-General has said, "most Afghans are reduced to eking out a 'bare bones' existence" (A/55/633, para. 80). We sincerely hope that this situation will not deteriorate any further in the future and we would like to send the message to the Afghan people that we continue to care about them, their human rights and their suffering after more than 20 years of war.

In concluding, I should like to express our gratitude to the Secretary-General, to the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, and especially to the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, for their tireless efforts to promote the peace process for Afghanistan. I should also like to take this opportunity to thank all United Nations staff members and other humanitarian relief workers who have been or still are working in Afghanistan for their excellent work in extreme and often discouraging conditions.

Mr. Levitte (France)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union -- Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia -- and the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as Liechtenstein, as a European Free Trade Association country of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

For more than 20 years, the Afghan people have been the hostages of a war with alarming human consequences. Weary of a civil war of which it is the main victim, the civilian population is at last aspiring to the restoration of peace. In this context, a threefold challenge presents itself: an end to the fighting, defence of human rights and the quest for a political solution to the conflict.

The continuation of the armed conflict is the primary source of concern to the European Union. It must be stressed that this conflict is extremely destabilizing, not only within the territory of Afghanistan but for the whole region. The European Union is particularly concerned about the suffering the fighting has caused for the civilian population and condemns any armed action directed at civilians. With humanitarian conditions steadily deteriorating, the increase in the number of displaced persons and refugees is a major destabilizing factor. The European Union calls for an immediate end to enforced displacement, and appeals for people to be freely allowed to return home.

Furthermore, this conflict is fuelled by the proceeds of drug-trafficking, which the European Union vigorously condemns. While it notes that the Taliban issued a decree on 28 July 2000 completely prohibiting the cultivation of the opium poppy, it is watching very closely to see how this decree will be enforced. In this context, it urges the Taliban to implement that decree.

The European Union calls on the parties to the conflict to refrain from providing any assistance for the funding, training or protection of terrorist organizations. In this connection, it urges the Taliban to comply with Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) and to expel Usama bin Laden in accordance with the terms of that resolution.

The tragedy of the armed struggle is compounded by contempt for the most elementary rights. The European Union deplores the continued flouting of human rights and condemns the persistence of summary executions, in particular the massacre of prisoners at Samangan last May. It also condemns arbitrary detention and the very unsafe conditions in which detainees are held.

The European Union notes that the Afghan conflict gives free rein to large-scale religious and ethnic persecution. In this regard, the ethnic dimension of the conflict is especially worrying, as it appears to be one of the main reasons for the continued fighting. In addition to condemning such acts of violence, the European Union denounces the continuing discrimination against women and girls. It calls on the Afghan factions, particularly the Taliban, to recognize, protect and promote equal rights for men and women, notably as regards access to education, employment and health care. In this connection, it condemns the firman issued in July 2000 restricting the employment of Afghan women by the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.

The European Union has been the principal donor of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for many years. It deplores the worrying deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the country. Furthermore, it appeals to the Taliban to honour their pledge to cooperate fully with the United Nations on humanitarian issues. As the conditions for providing humanitarian aid are particularly difficult, we call on the parties to the conflict to guarantee free and unimpeded access to the civilian population.

This conflict cannot be resolved by military means. The European Union therefore urges the parties to seek a political solution. In this context, it calls on the parties to observe a ceasefire. It supports the efforts of Mr. Vendrell, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, to move the peace process forward. It notes the exchange of separate letters of 30 October 2000 in which the Taliban and the United Front agreed to launch a process of dialogue through the good offices of the Secretary-General. It calls on the parties to commit themselves fully to this process of dialogue in order to restore peace and bring about reconciliation at an early date. Lastly, the European Union takes note of the conclusions reached at the meetings in Geneva and Montreux, and supports the prospects for the formation of a multi-ethnic, broadly representative Government that could be based in particular on the loya jirgah -- the traditional Afghan mechanism of representation.

The European Union reaffirms its deep commitment to respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan. It deplores interference in that country's internal affairs by non-Afghans engaged in military activities, as referred to in paragraphs 23 and 81 of the Secretary-General's report. The European Union wishes to stress that it fully endorses the observations and recommendations in Mr. Kofi Annan's report.

Finally, it offers its firm support, as well as its sponsorship, to the draft resolution prepared by Germany, which Ambassador Dieter Kastrup introduced so eloquently. It is pleased that it will be possible for the Assembly to adopt the draft resolution by consensus. The draft resolution deals in detail with acts of violence on which we cannot compromise, and with the political solutions that the international community is ready to offer the parties. It attests, this year yet again, to the abiding attention that the members of this Assembly must devote to resolving a conflict that has gone on for far too long.

Mr. Nejad Hosseinian (Iran)

I wish to begin by expressing my thanks to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the various aspects of the situation in Afghanistan. This report reflects, inter alia, the sustained and dedicated efforts of the Secretary-General himself, as well as those of his Personal Representative, Mr. Vendrell, and his colleagues in the Department for Political Affairs and the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, to bring about a political settlement to the Afghan crisis. I commend the Secretary-General and Mr. Francesc Vendrell for their efforts, and reiterate the full readiness of my Government to extend all possible support and assistance to them in the difficult task ahead.

It is very unfortunate that during the year that followed the previous debate on Afghanistan in the General Assembly, the situation in that country showed no signs of improvement. The Taliban persisted in their futile search for military gain and rendered all efforts aimed at the restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan fruitless. As a result, the plight of the Afghan people continued unabated, stability in the region remained elusive, various threats against the security of the countries surrounding Afghanistan persisted and the whole world continued to feel threatened due to threats originating from Afghanistan.

During this period, we noticed no practical change in the fighting cycle in Afghanistan. The Taliban pursued their bellicose and intransigent policy on the ground. Based on this perennial policy and with total contempt for international demands, the Taliban leadership continued their military activities during this past summer and tried cynically to use the last moments before the cold season set in to launch their periodic offensives. As is underscored in paragraph 23 of the Secretary-General's report (A/55/633), in this year's season of fighting,

"The Taliban ... took the initiative from the outset. The season's full-scale fighting started in the north of Kabul with two vigorous offensives by the Taliban forces on 1 and 9 July".

The defensive counterattacks by the forces of the Islamic State of Afghanistan that resulted in the recapturing of main territory lost to the Taliban reminded us once more of the futility of the military exercise.

We remain convinced that any military victory and conquest of territory in Afghanistan, which is a multi-ethnic society, are extremely short-lived and lead nowhere. The Taliban's militarist policy and illusion of the possibility of settling the complex crisis in Afghanistan through the barrel of a gun have only led to a worsening of the situation and impeded any progress in negotiations. In the final analysis, any eventual military dominance over ethnic groups in such a multi-ethnic society could not be but a recipe for further bloody conflicts.

Based on the historical facts, while ups and downs on the ground and on the military fronts are a constant likelihood, no military development could drastically and definitively change the situation and act as a means to bring about peace, even an imposed one, in Afghanistan. The time when military conquest of territory could determine the outcome is far behind us, and the realities of Afghan society do not allow the domination of one ethnic group over the others.

It is a source of deep concern that the recent offensives by the Taliban, similar to those in the past, created enormous hardship for the civilians in the north-east of Afghanistan. According to the reports by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the heavy fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in north-east Afghanistan has uprooted about 150,000 people. The latest report of the Secretary-General provides more information on the plight of the Afghan civilians who were forced to leave their homes due to the recent fighting in the central and northern regions.

What is much more alarming is the way the Taliban treat the innocent inhabitants of the conquered territories. The Secretary-General, in paragraph 78 of his annual report (A/55/633), reiterates that

"There are numerous reports of Taliban troops deliberately destroying, burning and looting homes and assets essential for survival. The deliberate targeting and harming of civilians has a long history in the Afghan conflict and points to the urgent need to hold accountable those who are responsible for such heinous crimes."

The Secretary-General goes on to express great concern over reports about summary executions, arbitrary detention and forced labour in detention camps.

With the winter setting in, the situation of those persons driven from their homes by the Taliban and those already displaced is getting worse. In view of the inhumanely harsh and ethnically biased treatment of the local population by the Taliban, it is very difficult to envisage any return of the displaced persons to their homes as long as the area is under Taliban occupation.

Despite the fact that the principles of assistance programming have been regularly challenged by the Taliban authorities -- as the Secretary-General stresses in his report -- we believe that there is a pressing need for the international community to maintain its commitment to the Afghan people and spare no effort to provide them with humanitarian assistance.

My country's interests are best served through the restoration of peace and tranquillity in Afghanistan. Trafficking in drugs, terrorism and extremism emanating from ongoing conflict in Afghanistan are creating instability in the region and constant threats against the national security and interests of countries surrounding Afghanistan, including my own country. Traffickers have turned the Iranian regions bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan into a landing place for illicit drugs smuggled from neighbouring eastern countries, with the intention of transiting the illicit cargo to consumer markets in Europe and the Persian Gulf States.

My country has been engaged for years in a costly war against heavily armed drug traffickers from certain eastern countries. This illicit and inhumane business is of a complex and transnational nature, and the wide range of organized crime that it creates is disrupting normal life in eastern Iran and adversely affecting the rest of the country. During the last year, 174 Iranian anti-drug personnel have lost their lives in confrontation with armed traffickers, and the estimated cost of this year's anti-drug campaign surpasses $1 billion.

In last week's armed conflicts with traffickers in Khorasan province, Iranian military and enforcement agencies released 87 hostages taken by drug traffickers.

The areas under Taliban control remain the world's largest supplier of opium, and they do not show any sign that they have decided to do away with the scourge of drugs. A slight decline of 10 per cent in opium poppy cultivation in the area does not live up to the Taliban decree of September 1999 to reduce opium poppy cultivation by one third. Moreover, if we take the severe drought and its impact on this year's planting into account, we may conclude that nothing serious has been done by the Taliban to curb the drug business. This means that the Taliban are intent on relying on income generated from illicit drugs for financing their war-making activities, and therefore the situation inside Afghanistan and in the neighbouring countries may continue to worsen.

In this respect, we should welcome the high-level meetings of the "six plus two" group, held at the United Nations Headquarters, and the active role played by this group, leading, among other things, to the adoption of a regional action plan aimed at eliminating illicit drug production.

We believe that a political settlement of the Afghan conflict aimed at the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and representative Government is the only way to restore a lasting and comprehensive peace in Afghanistan. And peace, in turn, is the only remedy to the many ills that plague the Afghan people and their neighbours. Thus, we place great hope in efforts undertaken by the United Nations. The recent commitment expressed by the Afghan parties to enter into a process of dialogue represents a glimmer of hope for all and, above all, for the suffering Afghan people.

Meanwhile, we agree with the Secretary-General's statement, in paragraph 14 of document A/55/633, that

"clearly the criterion for participation in the shaping of Afghanistan's future cannot be the holding of weapons, but that the non-fighting Afghans, both inside and outside the country, have much to contribute and need to be involved in deciding the ultimate destiny of their country."

As to the requirements for a final settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan, in our opinion it is first essential that the warring parties admit and recognize at the outset that in Afghanistan's multi-ethnic society there is a pressing and unavoidable need for a multi-ethnic, broad-based, representative and all-inclusive Government.

Secondly, good faith is a must in any negotiations. This, in turn, requires that the parties demonstrate political will. The evidence has thus far been indicative of a lack of such political will on the part of the Taliban. Over the past few years, the Taliban leadership has repeatedly resorted to a variety of tactics in an attempt to buy time and wait for the fighting season to set in. We hope that the Taliban are politically willing this time to abide by their commitment to negotiate in good faith.

Thirdly, we all need to understand and accept that the frenetic quest by the Taliban to resolve the problem by military means is absurd and can lead to no solution. With that in mind, it is regrettable that in the course of the recent offensives, the issue of the engagement of non-Afghan nationals on the side of Taliban forces became even more prominent. This is one of the issues of great concern, and we believe that this is an enduring and dangerous element that can lead to a spread of the conflict beyond Afghan borders.

Fourthly, given the record of the Taliban, the international community should remain alert at all times and oversee the process closely. It is essential that the international community avoid sending signals that could be wrongly interpreted by the warring parties. It is also essential that the world community, and the United Nations representing it, be prepared to act whenever it deems it necessary to deprive the belligerent and intransigent party from the means it needs to further its military and diplomatic objectives at the cost of continued suffering for the Afghan people and instability in the region.

Over the past few years, my country has tried to engage the Taliban in a positive way. To that end, the Iranian Government undertook to open two border crossing points into areas controlled by the Taliban; to deliver among other things, wheat and flour to Afghans when they needed it most; and to exchange numerous technical delegations between the two sides with a view to tackling various pressing issues. At the same time, we believe that while we try to engage the Taliban and further the peace process, the need to address certain pressing and urgent issues -- such as terrorism, extremism, opium poppy cultivation and drug-trafficking in the areas controlled by the Taliban -- cannot, and should not, be placed on hold. Those are issues of great concern to Afghanistan's neighbours and to the international community. If the Taliban are indeed sincere in their commitment to the peace process, they have to take immediate steps to address those concerns. The international community should hold the Taliban accountable for those issues and continue to address them in parallel with the political process.

In view of the most recent threats, we consider it to be quite cynical to turn the peace process and international humanitarian assistance into a shield for thwarting rightful actions contemplated by the international community aimed at putting an end to intransigence and belligerency. We believe that the Taliban should not be allowed to use the peace process and humanitarian assistance as a cover to escape accountability for illicit drugs and terrorism.

The issue of the tragic murders by Taliban forces of the staff of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) at Mazar-e-Sharif in August 1998 is still pending and remains unresolved. As the international community and the Security Council itself are fully aware, the Taliban stubbornly continue to disregard the rules of international law and have yet to implement Security Council resolution 1214 (1998), which condemned that crime and, in paragraph 5, called upon the Taliban

"to cooperate with the United Nations in investigating these crimes with a view to prosecuting those responsible".

I would like to emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined vigorously to pursue this matter to a conclusion in which justice is served. We remain hopeful that the United Nations will continue its valuable efforts in that regard.

We are pleased to sponsor draft resolution A/55/L.62/Rev.1, which highlights the international community's commitment to addressing the Afghan conflict. We hope that the clear message contained in the draft resolution, which is sponsored by about 80 Member States, is heard by those who are blocking a peaceful settlement of this conflict. I would also like to place on record our appreciation to the Permanent Representative of Germany and his colleagues for the excellent work they did in bringing about this draft resolution.

Mr. Smith (Australia)

The Australian Government strongly supports international efforts to bring the long-running conflict in Afghanistan to an early and lasting resolution. We continue to urge all factions involved in the conflict to halt violence, conclude a durable ceasefire and form a viable Government that represents the interests of the Afghan people. We also call upon all parties in Afghanistan to adhere to universal human rights standards, particularly with respect to women and girls. We call upon the Taliban to comply fully with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1267 (1999).

Australia supports efforts by the United Nations, including through the "six plus two" group and the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francesc Vendrell, towards realizing a settlement that is representative of the interests of all Afghan communities. Australia encourages discussions among all neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, recognizing that a comprehensive solution requires their cooperation.

Australia's support for peace and reconciliation is given practical expression in the provision of Australian aid to Afghanistan, in which the protection and promotion of human rights are key issues. Afghan women have been a main focus of Australian aid, and all projects supported by Australia have been in accordance with the important United Nations principle that women and girls should participate in, and benefit from, aid projects.

In supporting and sponsoring draft resolution A/55/L.62/Rev.1, Australia wishes to draw particular attention to the ongoing plight of the estimated 2.6 million Afghan refugees living in the countries neighbouring Afghanistan. We also want to draw attention to the urgent need to find durable solutions for them. Those 2.6 million refugees make up the largest single refugee group in the world.

Australia commends the efforts of the Governments of Iran and of Pakistan, which together have shouldered the major part of the significant task of providing asylum to Afghan refugees. Australia acknowledges that providing that assistance represents a significant diversion of resources from pressing national development needs in both Iran and Pakistan. In recognition of this, Australia is currently considering the provision of greater levels of assistance, focusing particularly on the problems of the movement of refugees other people throughout the region. We call upon other members of the international community to increase the level of support provided to refugee assistance undertaken in those countries.

Australia strongly supports enhanced and better coordinated efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Such efforts are essential to minimizing the movement of people out of Afghanistan and creating conditions favourable to voluntary return. In response to this need, Australia recently earmarked 26.8 million Australian dollars for expenditure over four years on aid activities aimed at addressing the situation of Afghan and Iraqi refugees; 1.7 million dollars have already been provided for drought and food aid to Afghanistan through the World Food Programme, and a further 500,000 Australian dollars have been allocated to landmine awareness and demining projects. A central goal of that assistance is to help people remain in their homes rather than being forced to leave and join the already large population of displaced persons in the region.

The need for an increased commitment by the international community to support initiatives to find durable solutions for Afghan refugees is becoming critical. In the light of changing circumstances within Afghanistan and consequent changes in protection needs, greater efforts in the areas of registration and refugee status determination are necessary to determine the most appropriate durable solution for displaced Afghans.

The appropriate solution for the majority of Afghans currently displaced in the region is repatriation. The international community needs to support this by providing humanitarian and development assistance to ensure safe, dignified and sustainable return for those people that elect to return voluntarily and for those people determined not to require protection under international law. For a small minority, local integration or resettlement to a third country will be a more appropriate response to their particular protection needs. The international community should support those outcomes by providing assistance to countries of first asylum for local integration and by ensuring that adequate resettlement places are available. The provision of resettlement places in particular is essential if the international community wishes to continue to manage the movement of refugees throughout the world in an orderly manner and to dissuade people from using the services of people smugglers.

Australia strongly urges other nations to continue supporting the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people, both in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries, and looks to mechanisms such as the Afghanistan Support Group to ensure that those efforts are coordinated. Failure to do this will result in further dislocation for these people and will encourage some to seek solutions through illegal immigration, with its associated dangers and costs.

Mr. Granovsky (Russia)

The Russian Federation is gravely concerned at the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where periods of calm are followed by resumptions of increasingly fierce hostilities. The civil war that has been dragging on for many years has caused the people of Afghanistan untold suffering. It has caused an enormous number of deaths, the forced migration of millions of refugees and displaced persons and gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. As a result, the country has been divided into camps of warring factions; it has been set back decades and has been excluded from normal international discourse.

The General Assembly and the Security Council have repeatedly adopted decisions clearly stating the Taliban movement's responsibility for the continuing armed conflict in Afghanistan, for having torpedoed the Afghan peace process, for having grossly violated international humanitarian law and human rights and for illegally producing and trafficking in drugs. All of those destructive factors and the Taliban leadership's responsibility for them have once again been set out clearly in the report of the Secretary-General, entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security" (A/55/633).

The international community's tireless efforts to involve the Taliban in the process of dialogue in order to create in Afghanistan a broadly representative government reflecting the interests of all Afghans have remained futile. There was one encouraging report: the agreement by the Taliban and the United Front on 2 November to enter into a process of dialogue without preconditions, under United Nations auspices, in order to bring to an end the Afghan conflict by political means. It seemed that, for the first time, the parties had undertaken in writing to seek a political settlement on the basis of an ongoing negotiating process.

But the Taliban have violated that pledge as well. They have not given up hope of resolving the conflict by force of arms and have thus far given no positive reaction to numerous appeals from the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francesc Vendrell, to agree to the proposed agenda for a political dialogue.

We are gravely concerned at the internationalization of the Afghan conflict and at the involvement of a large number of non-Afghans, particularly from the madrassahs in Pakistan. They are not only actively fighting on the side of the Taliban, but are involved in the planning and logistical support of their military operations.

There is no question but that Afghanistan has become a major drug-producing country. Seventy per cent of world drug production comes from Afghanistan. We welcome the international community's efforts to combat the Afghan drug threat. Here, we view as an important practical step the September adoption of a regional plan of action by the "six plus two" group, with the active participation of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.

The threat of terrorism from Taliban-controlled territory is particularly dangerous. There, a major bridgehead for international terrorism and extremism has been erected. A great number of international mercenaries are located there; they not only participate actively in the fighting but are also making plans to destabilize the situation in other countries, including neighbouring countries.

The leaders of the Taliban movement openly give financial, military and other kinds of support to Chechen militants and to Uzbek, Tajik, Uigur and other extremists. Probably the most famous modern-day terrorist, Usama bin Laden, is a guest of the Taliban. Despite the many appeals from the international community to extradite this terrorist and put an end to support for, and to close down, the camps that train international terrorists on their territory, the Taliban are continuing their criminal policies.

In October 1999 the Security Council adopted resolution 1267 (1999) which imposed an international sanctions regime on the Taliban movement. Since that time they have been repeatedly warned of the possibility that additional sanctions would be imposed. Unfortunately, they continue to ignore all of the appeals of the international community.

The dangerous activities of the Taliban give every reason to tighten sanctions against their movement -- targeted measures that could encourage the Taliban to renounce their support for international terrorism and to embark on a political dialogue both within Afghanistan itself and with their neighbours in the entire civilized world.

We think it is necessary to put a definite halt to the supply of weapons to the Taliban regime, to impose a military embargo on them and to restrict or fully close down the activities of their missions or offices abroad, as well as to freeze the financial assets of bin Laden and introduce an embargo on the supply of the chemical substances that are used to produce drugs.

Naturally, sanctions should not worsen the suffering of the ordinary citizens of Afghanistan. We hear that the sanctions against the Taliban apparently have negative humanitarian effects. It is quite clear that the reasons for the dire humanitarian situation, a situation now on the brink of disaster, lie altogether elsewhere. First and foremost is the continuing fighting, for which the Taliban is to blame. This, on top of the severest drought to hit the country in the last 30 years, is leading to the further destruction of an already war-sapped economic infrastructure.

In this situation, instead of focusing on helping the population of Afghanistan to survive in these difficult circumstances, the Taliban, through their actions, are making the situation even worse by fully shifting the burden for caring for the people of their country onto the shoulders of the international community.

We welcome the efforts of the international community to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the needy people of Afghanistan. We note that this assistance should be distributed fairly, primarily to those who have suffered as a result of the fighting, as well as in areas that have been hardest hit by the drought.

Russia is concerned that the Taliban, instead of providing every assistance to the personnel of humanitarian organizations, instead of guaranteeing their safety, is hampering the work of those organizations. What is also dangerous is that they do not allow due assistance to be given to the rebel areas and thus use humanitarian assistance for their political objectives. We feel that we must definitely avoid any discrimination here and that we must ensure compliance with the principle of equal access to humanitarian assistance by all who need it.

We believe also that in these circumstances, international humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to Afghanistan should enhance the efforts of the international community to achieve a speedy political settlement. Clearly, carrying out rehabilitation projects will become possible only when real progress is made in the peace settlement.

For its part, Russia intends to continue to give whatever humanitarian assistance it can to the Afghan people. From 1995 to 2000, Russia's Ministry for Emergency Situations provided humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people to the tune of about $2 million, the overall volume of which was about 200,000 tons. This included foodstuffs, clothing, tents, blankets, dishes and other essential goods.

At the beginning of this year, a special decision was taken to provide food for children, as well as medicines to the people of Afghanistan in the amount of more than $100,000. In November of this year, almost $400,000 was allocated to provide assistance to the people of the north-east region of Afghanistan, which bore the brunt of the fighting. The first consignment was 30 tons of medicines that has already been delivered.

We are also prepared to participate in a practical manner in the de-mining programmes in Afghanistan if appropriate safety is guaranteed and if the fighting stops.

We attach great importance to the adoption today of the draft resolution on Afghanistan, which Russia joined in sponsoring. We reaffirm our willingness to work together constructively with all interested parties in seeking to promote a peaceful political settlement of the conflict in that country on the basis of the decisions taken by the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Mr. Pamir (Turkey)

The political and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is one of the most preoccupying and pressing problems facing the international community, and the recent developments there are a source of serious concern.

Turkey has deep-rooted historical and cultural ties with the Afghan people. We attach the utmost importance to the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

We believe that there can be no military solution to the Afghan crisis, that the only viable way remains the establishment of a broad-based multi-ethnic Government embracing all parts of Afghan society, and that a lasting peace can be achieved in Afghanistan only after a durable ceasefire. This is a crucial requirement to start meaningful negotiations.

The ongoing conflict has been exacerbated by the attempts of one of the parties to gain control of the country through the use of force against legitimate authority. This not only contributes to the perpetuation of the precarious situation in the region, but also provides a fertile ground for threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking and religious extremism which make themselves felt far beyond Afghanistan's neighbourhood.

The overall outlook of the country is in stark contrast to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Charter. Hence, efforts to bring about a solution to the political and humanitarian aspects of the problem have yielded only minimum results. We believe that the international community should no longer remain indifferent to the aggression in Afghanistan and should stand firm against the violation by the Taliban of the ideals enunciated in the Charter. It is high time for the international community and the United Nations to take a more determined stand and effective steps to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people and to threats that the present situation poses to international peace and security. The United Nations continues to have a central role to play in this respect and should redouble its efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire. Other initiatives aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan will prove successful if they are pursued in close coordination with the United Nations.

We are deeply concerned by the human rights violations and the discrimination against girls and women, as well as other acts of religious fundamentalism in areas under the Taliban's control. The resumption of fighting by the Taliban last July has added new problems to the already grave humanitarian and human rights situation on the ground and has led to further displacement of the civilian population. Afghanistan is in ruins today. Human and natural resources have been devastated, and basic rights and fundamental freedom of the majority of its people are under constant and flagrant violation. It is necessary to intensify assistance efforts of the relevant United Nations offices and agencies in Afghanistan to help alleviate the conditions of the Afghan people and to mobilize the international community to urgently extend their helping hand.

The prevailing conditions faced by the vast number of internally displaced persons are of alarming proportions, and these people are in urgent need of basic assistance such as food, shelter, heat and medicine. Humanitarian assistance to these internally displaced persons, who are concentrated in the areas administered by the legitimate Government of Afghanistan, must be increased. Furthermore, the funds allocated to the projects to improve the status of women in the Taliban region that for obvious reasons could not be used should be reallocated for women who are participating in social life in northern Afghanistan.

Turkey has provided shelter to displaced families in northern Afghanistan and is extending its humanitarian assistance, especially in the fields of health and education. Our food assistance to the worst-stricken people of Afghanistan is also substantial. We will continue to stand by the Afghan people in their hour of need.

The Afghan people certainly look forward to rebuilding their future in unity and harmony. The tormenting experience they have undergone only vindicates their aspiration to national reconciliation. We should all build on this sense of re-emergence. Turkey, as always, is ready to contribute to such an outcome. It was with this purpose in mind that it sponsored the draft resolution before the General Assembly.

Mr. Kobayashi (Japan)

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on this subject, and the delegation of Germany for coordinating the important draft resolutions before us, which Japan is proud to sponsor.

Japan is gravely concerned at the continuing conflict and the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are experiencing unspeakable hardships due to the combined effects of conflict and natural disasters. This situation is intolerable.

The Government of Japan pays its highest respect to the staff members of United Nations, other international organizations and non-governmental organizations who are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and to provide assistance to the people of Afghanistan. We request the Secretary-General and the Governments of the relevant Member States to take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of these people as they courageously carry out their duties, often under extremely dangerous circumstances.

The warring parties must be made to understand that continued fighting will benefit no one and that they must take the course of action that will be best for the Afghan people and the future of the country. We call upon the parties concerned to put an end to the hostilities and to seek a peaceful settlement through negotiations. We must re-emphasize that the conflict in Afghanistan can be settled only through negotiations and with the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and representative Government. The countries concerned, and neighbouring countries in particular, should not interfere in the conflict, but rather should use their influence on the warring parties to bring the fighting to an end. It is especially important that all concerned stop extending military assistance or supplying arms to the warring parties and that they refrain from any other measures that could prolong the hostilities.

One very regrettable factor in the situation in Afghanistan is the barrier of mistrust that exists between the Taliban and the international community. Although the Taliban has shown some positive moves in response to the concern expressed by the international community -- for example by announcing a ban on opium production and by allowing women some access to education -- the barrier remains high. We call upon the Taliban to recognize the need to build a relationship with the international community that is based on genuine trust.

As stated in the Secretary-General's report, the Afghan programme cannot be reduced to a single issue. It is not only the conflict itself but also a multitude of related issues including drugs, terrorism, military support from foreign powers, human rights violations, humanitarian issues and sanctions. These issues cannot be resolved by tackling each issue in isolation. Therefore, we emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach by the international community to bring about a lasting solution to the Afghan conflict. From this point of view, Japan supports all efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan, including the "six plus two" process, the Rome process and the initiative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. These processes must continue, while maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the United Nations peace process.

We welcome in particular the agreement by the two warring parties to initiate a process of dialogue, which was confirmed in October in separate letters addressed to Mr. Vendrell, the Secretary General's Personal Representative and Head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA). This is a first step towards peace, and we look forward to a positive outcome of the dialogue. Japan is prepared to host this dialogue in the future. UNSMA's role in ensuring continued dialogue between the Taliban and the United Front is more important than ever, and Japan remains ready to continue to contribute personnel to UNSMA.

With a view to supporting the United Nations peace process from an impartial position and to facilitating dialogue between the parties, Japan has seized various opportunities to invite representatives, at various levels, of the parties concerned to Japan to exchange views. We intend to continue these efforts in the future, in cooperation with the United Nations and the international community.

Japan attaches great importance to assistance to Afghanistan because of humanitarian reasons and because we believe that international assistance provides the parties with an incentive to reach a peaceful settlement. Our contributions have been extended chiefly through the framework of the Afghan Support Group. In particular, the Azra programme and the Greater Azra programme, which were implemented with the contributions of the Government of Japan, are regarded as realistic and situation-specific programmes for voluntary refugee repatriation and community development, and they have shown significant results.

We hope that the warring parties will engage in sincere efforts to achieve peace, realizing that the scope of international assistance will be limited as long as the conflict continues. Japan reaffirms its intention to provide further assistance for the development of Afghanistan once peace has been achieved and a broad-based, multi-ethnic and representative government has been established.

Sadly, as we stand here in the United Nations debating the situation in Afghanistan, the people of that country continue to endure tremendous hardships. For the sake of those people, Japan intends to cooperate to the fullest possible extent to achieve peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.