Deploring continued fighting in Afghanistan,
members of the Security Council today called on the warring parties to
cease hostilities and start negotiations under United Nations auspices.
Council members made their call through
a statement to reporters by the body's current President, Ambassador Said
Ben Mustapha of Tunisia. The statement expressed strong support for the
ongoing activities of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Personal Representative
for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, who has been trying to start the process
of dialogue agreed to by the parties last November.
Council members also expressed deep concern at the reported deliberate killing of civilians and demanded that the warring sides comply with international humanitarian norms as well as their own commitment to respect the rights of the civilian population.
Expressing deep concern at the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Council members noted that "hundreds of thousands of people have left their homes and are in makeshift camps with insufficient shelter and facilities." Noting that most of those people were displaced within Afghanistan, while others had recently crossed into Pakistan and Iran, Council members strongly urged international donors to contribute to the UN's appeal for funding.
The statement also condemned the Taliban for its failure to comply with earlier resolutions, and for the group's continued support "for the export of terrorism and their refusal to hand over the indicted terrorist Usama bin Laden." Those actions had originally prompted the Council to impose sanctions against the Taliban, which were later tightened under resolution 1333 (2000). Today's statement called on all States to fully abide by that resolution and "stressed the need for a constructive role to be played by neighbouring States."
Council members also noted that the Taliban's ban on poppy production "appeared to be having an effect" with a decrease detected by the UN Drug Control Programme.
Meanwhile, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima arrived in Kabul today for a three-day visit to Afghanistan. Mr. Oshima is in the country, at the request of the Secretary-General, to assess the current humanitarian situation, and to mobilize donor assistance in response to the needs of the Afghans both inside their country and in Pakistan.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator was in Pakistan yesterday, where he held discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar. Their talks focused on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan, as well as Pakistan's needs arising from the drought affecting Baluchistan and Sind provinces.