USG FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND USG FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF TALIBAN AUTHORITY IN NEW YORK
Press Release
AFG/84
IHA/664
USG FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND USG FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF TALIBAN AUTHORITY IN NEW YORK
19980917 NEW YORK, 16 September (OCHA/DPA) -- Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Sergio Vieira de Mello and Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast yesterday met with representatives of the Taliban authority in New York to discuss a number of important issues.First, they conveyed the Secretary-General's deep concern about reports of violations of human rights and killings of civilians and members of minority groups, particularly the Hazaras, following the Taliban capture of Mazar-i-Sharif, and the potential for similar atrocities in Bamiyan following the recent Taliban offensive in that area. They reiterated the Secretary- General's plea to the Taliban authorities to refrain from any attacks on civilians, regardless of ethnic background. They also expressed concern about reports of population displacements following the Taliban takeover of Bamiyan.
Secondly, Mr. Prendergast and Mr. Vieira de Mello told the Taliban representatives, in response to a request from the Taliban authorities for the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance to Bamiyan, that the United Nations has agreed, on an exceptional basis, to send an assessment mission to Bamiyan.
This is conditional on the Taliban authorities guaranteeing the safety of United Nations personnel, and then only on the following basis: 1) there will be direct flights by United Nations planes into and out of Bamiyan; 2) Taliban escorts will be provided for the duration of the mission; 3) security constraints will prevent United Nations personnel staying overnight; 4) mission personnel can freely utilize United Nations communication equipment; and 5) the mission will have unfettered access to all affected populations in the Bamiyan area.
This morning, the Taliban representative in New York informed the United Nations that he had obtained agreement from his authorities in Kandahar to all these points. He did point out, however, that the airport in Bamiyan had been damaged. Planning for the United Nations mission is proceeding in Islamabad. However, indications are that fighting may be continuing in the area.
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The third point made to the Taliban representatives was that this mission is being undertaken on an exceptional basis and does not imply a full-scale return of United Nations international staff to Afghanistan.
For this to occur, certain conditions have to be met. The Under- Secretaries-General reminded the Taliban representatives that, despite repeated requests, they have still failed to provide credible reports on the murders of United Nations personnel in Jalalabad and Kabul in July and August. Full and convincing reports on the slaying of Colonel Calo and of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) staff killed in Jalalabad are still outstanding.
The Taliban representatives, in the meeting, presented a letter addressed to the Secretary-General requesting United Nations mediation between Iran and the Taliban. The Secretary-General has repeatedly expressed his concern at the increase in tension in the region. He is in contact with relevant government leaders and he has asked his Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, to come to New York. The Secretary-General will undertake further high-level consultations in the margins of the General Assembly meeting next week. The Secretary-General is also currently considering other measures to help reduce tension in the region. In the context of these efforts, he is giving consideration to the Taliban request.
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