28 August 1998
TEXT: US CALLS FOR AFGHAN PEACE TALKS
(US Minister-Counselor Minton's Security Council remarks) (570) United Nations -- The United States on August 28 urged the warring factions in Afghanistan "to cease all assistance to terrorists, including providing sanctuary, and to expel them from Afghanistan." In a speech to the Security Council, US Minister-Counselor Mark C. Minton said a representative, broad-based, multi-ethnic government is the only way a lasting peace can be achieved in Afghanistan. He urged the Afghan factions to work with the UN to achieve that goal. Concerned about the escalating fighting and violence in Afghanistan, the Security Council adopted a four-page, 18-point resolution reiterating the international community's support for a peace process in the country, based on a negotiated political settlement under UN auspices. Unanimously adopting the resolution, the Council said outside interference in Afghanistan's affairs should stop and it called on all states to take "resolute measures" to stop their military from planning and participating in Afghan military operations. It also demanded that all Afghan factions, particularly the Taliban, ensure the safety and freedom of movement of UN and other humanitarian workers, refrain from harboring and training terrorists, and halt illegal drug activities. "We call upon the factions to respect internationally accepted norms of behavior," Minton also said. Following is the text of Minton's remarks: (Begin text) UNITED NATIONS MISSION TO UNITED NATIONS August 28, 1998 Statement by Mark C. Minton, Political Minister-Counselor, United States Mission to the United Nations, on the Situation in Afghanistan, in the Security Council, August 28, 1998 The United States emphasizes that no faction in Afghanistan can impose its will on the entire country through military action. A lasting settlement can be achieved only by establishing a representative and broad-based, multi-ethnic government that can effectively govern and honor Afghanistan~'s international obligations. We take this opportunity to again urge the Afghan factions to work with the United Nations and Special Representative Brahimi to reach this goal. The factions should also facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid by the United Nations and non-governmen~~~tal organizatio~~ns to all in need, and work to protect the human rights of all Afghans. We are particularly concerned about the women and girls of Afghanistan, who are subject to systematic discrimination and repression. We call upon the factions to respect internationally accepted norms of behavior. As President Clinton has said, terrorism is one of the greatest dangers we face in this new global era. We once again urge the Afghan factions to cease all assistance to terrorists, including providing sanctuary, and to expel them from Afghanistan. Afghanist~an's neighbors should not interfere in that country. In particular, they should not take any actions that could further enlarge or inflame the conflict at this critical time. The United States supports the territorial integrity of Afghanista~n and all of its neighbors. We call on all Afghan parties as well as all of Afghani~sta~n's neighbors to respect its borders. The United States is aware of reports that several Iranians, including diplomatic staff of the Iranian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, have been missing since the Taliban captured that city. While we cannot confirm these report~s, we remind the Afghan factions that the holding of diplomats for any reason and at any time is unacceptable, given their special protected status under international law. (End text)
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