High ranking representatives of six countries neighboring
Afghanistan, as well as the United States and the Russian
Federation, agreed Monday on the need to establish a broad-based
and freely chosen Afghan Government.
Collectively known as the"Six plus Two" group, China, Iran,
Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the U.S. and Russia
"pledged their continued support to efforts of the Afghan people to
find a political solution to the Afghan crisis," a joint
declaration issued after the meeting at the U.N. headquarters
said.
"They agreed that there should be the establishment in Afghanistan
of a broad based multiethnic, politically balanced, freely chosen
Afghan administration representative of their aspirations and at
peace with its neighbors," it said.
It
condemned the export of international terrorism by the al-Qaeda
network and the ruling Taliban authorities for allowing the
continued use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities.
It
expressed support for efforts by the Afghan people to rid
themselves of the Taliban regime, as well as international efforts
to root out terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Welcoming the "central" role of the U.N. in assisting the Afghan
people in developing a political alternative to the Taliban regime,
the declaration endorsed the work by the secretary-general's
Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, particularly efforts to
help Afghan groups urgently establish a broad-based Afghan
administration.
Concerning the relief operations, the members of the "Six plus Two"
pledged continued support for the U.N.'s humanitarian efforts both
inside Afghanistan and in refugee camps located in neighboring
countries.
They urged additional contributions from donor countries and
welcomed efforts by the international community to begin planning
for Afghanistan's long-term reconstruction once a broadly-based
government has assumed office and peace has been restored.
During the meeting, Brahimi briefed the participants on his recent
mission to the region. The council is due to hold an open meeting
on Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Due to temporary closure of the U.N. headquarters following a plane
crash in New York, the foreign minister of Pakistan was not able to
attend the meeting.
(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2001)