08 December 1999
Text: U.S. Government Statement on Afghanistan at Ottawa Meeting 12/8
(U.S. continues efforts to seek an end to Afghanistan conflict) (1320) "Prospects for peace in Afghanistan have continued to be discouraging since this group's last meeting in June," the U.S. Government said in a statement prepared for delivery at the Afghan Support Group's meeting in Ottawa, Canada, December 8. "The Taliban's insistence on pursuing a military resolution to the conflict has led over recent months to the further dislocation of Afghan society," the statement read. The U.S. statement addressed the following points: -- The Six-plus-2 process has also been a disappointment. (Six neighbors of Afghanistan including Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, plus the United States and Russia, along with the United Nations and all members states, agreed to look at ways to limit and check the flow of arms and other supplies to the warring parties). "United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and most Six Plus Two members have questioned the practical utility of the Six Plus Two. The process is currently frozen. It can be re-energized only if the member countries seriously commit themselves to a united effort to bring the warring parties to negotiations." -- Our efforts to bring Usama bin Laden to justice continue. Since August 1998, the United States has repeatedly contacted the Taliban and encouraged them to expel bin Laden without delay to a country where he can be tried. The Taliban were, and continue to be, unresponsive. -- We remain concerned about other issues with the Taliban, including their appalling human rights policies, especially their treatment of women and girls. -- Recent surveys show that Afghanistan has added to its shame the status of number one producer of opium in the world. We are exploring cooperation among Afghanistan's neighbors to confront this threat. The U.S. was encouraged by the meeting of a cross-section of Afghans in Rome November 22-25 at the initiative of former king of Afghanistan Zahir Shah to discuss plans for convening an emergency loya jirga (assembly) to discuss a peaceful resolution of the conflict. "The most productive way to address all of these issues will be a cessation of the civil war and the formation of a broad-based, traditionally broad-minded government that represents the interests of all Afghans and respects the tenets of Islam. We continue our efforts to seek such an end to the conflict," the statement said. Following is the text of the statement: (begin text) U.S. GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN TEXT AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY AT THE AFGHAN SUPPORT GROUP MEETING OTTAWA, CANADA, DECEMBER 8, 1999 SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN Prospects for peace in Afghanistan have continued to be discouraging since this group's last meeting in June. The Taliban's insistence on pursuing a military resolution to the conflict has led over recent months to the further dislocation of Afghan society. During the Taliban's offensives in the Shomali Valley last summer, and in the northern provinces in October, thousands of homes, fields, and orchards were destroyed and tens of thousands of Afghan civilians forced to flee the violence. Many of these destitute people remain short of food and shelter in the Panjshir Valley, stronghold of the Northern Alliance. We welcome recent reports that the United Nations has successfully negotiated the safe passage of humanitarian assistance through Taliban lines to the displaced persons in the Panjshir Valley. We urge the Taliban to follow through on this commitment. SIX PLUS TWO - MORIBUND AT THIS POINT The Six Plus Two process has also been a disappointment. The Tashkent Six Plus Two meeting last July ended without a consensus, when Turkmenistan refused to sign the proposed declaration, claiming that it contained an anti-Taliban bias. This declaration called for non-interference in the conflict by Afghanistan's neighbors and for negotiations between the warring parties. The Taliban offensive followed this conference by days, indicating that the Taliban were planning for war even as their representatives were attending the Tashkent meeting -- and professing their desire for peace. As a result, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and most Six Plus Two members have questioned the practical utility of the Six Plus Two. The process is currently frozen. It can be re-energized only if the member countries seriously commit themselves to a united effort to bring the warring parties to negotiations. The need for dialogue is more apparent than ever. As winter approaches, the military situation is largely in stalemate. Neither side appears strong enough to defeat the other. The chronic fighting promises only to produce more human suffering. Afghans are sick of war and eager for a peaceful settlement. The time has never been more right for the warring parties to set down their weapons and come to the negotiating table. Only by desisting from its military efforts and agreeing to negotiate can the Taliban bring the hope of peace to Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance has signaled its willingness to do this. The Taliban have not. ROME - SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN DIALOGUE Former King of Afghanistan Zahir Shah's initiative to bring together a wide spectrum of Afghans to discuss a peaceful resolution of the conflict is encouraging. A cross-section of Afghans met in Rome from November 22 to November 25 to discuss plans for convening an emergency loya jirga. This meeting was facilitated by Italy, with the U.S. and other interested parties, including the United Nations, observing. We encourage all Afghan parties to continue exploring avenues to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM Our efforts to bring Usama bin Laden to justice continue. Since August 1998, the United States has repeatedly contacted the Taliban and encouraged them to expel bin Laden without delay to a country where he can be tried. The Taliban were, and continue to be, unresponsive. In July, President Clinton issued an executive order blocking Taliban property and banning U.S. business transactions with the Taliban. In August, a second executive order placed Taliban-owned Ariana Airlines under sanctions. The international community has also moved to bring bin Laden to justice. On October 15, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1267 which calls for the Taliban to stop sheltering bin Laden and ensure that he is turned over to a country where he will be brought to justice. The Taliban had 30 days in which to comply with this resolution. To our regret, the Taliban chose to defy the Security Council, and since November 14 have been under UNSCR 1267's sanctions provisions. Under the sanctions regime, Taliban assets are frozen worldwide, and flights operated by or on behalf of the Taliban are banned from UN member states' territories. I must emphasize that these sanctions were designed to minimize the impact on the Afghan people and allow humanitarian assistance to continue unimpeded. They do not address trade with Afghanistan -- trade in food and medicine will not be cut off. A committee to be established by the Security Council can also approve exemptions for humanitarian need, including the fulfillment of religious obligations. These sanctions are targeted against the Taliban, not the Afghan people. We urge all UN members to implement these sanctions rapidly and to assist the UN in identifying Taliban assets and aircraft. We remain concerned about other issues with the Taliban, including their appalling human rights policies, especially their treatment of women and girls. Recent surveys show that Afghanistan has added to its shame the status of number one producer of opium in the world. We are exploring cooperation among Afghanistan's neighbors to confront this threat. The most productive way to address all of these issues will be a cessation of the civil war and the formation of a broad-based, traditionally broad-minded government that represents the interests of all Afghans and respects the tenets of Islam. We continue our efforts to seek such an end to the conflict. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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