SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS MURDERS OF NINE IRANIAN DIPLOMATS

Press Release
SG/SM/6704
AFG/85

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS MURDERS OF NINE IRANIAN DIPLOMATS

The following statement was issued on 14 September by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General received with sorrow the reports that the Taliban have discovered the bodies of nine Iranian diplomats, who had been missing since 8 August when the militia captured Mazar-i-Sharif. The Secretary- General received later in the day a letter from the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar Mujahid, confirming these reports.

The letter says: "Regarding the fate of the missing Iranians in Mazar-i-Sharif, following the investigation of a special commission, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, while expressing sadness, announces that the nine Iranian workers who entered Mazar-i-Sharif during the war, either intentionally or unintentionally, have been killed by unidentified soldiers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan who acted on their own. The bodies of these nine Iranians were found by the special investigation commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan buried along the bodies of the opposition members outside of the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is ready to cooperate in the transfer of the bodies to Iran."

The Secretary-General strongly condemns these cruel murders and violations of international law. He calls for an urgent investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the fate of the other two Iranian diplomats and journalist who were at the Iranian Consulate- General in Mazar-i-Sharif on that day and have been missing since then. He appeals to the Taliban to do their utmost to determine their whereabouts, and to ensure their safe and prompt return to Iran if they are still alive. The Secretary-General stands ready to cooperate in this.

- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/6704 AFG/85 18 September 1998

The Secretary-General would like to express his deep concern about the overall situation in Afghanistan, in particular, the heightening tensions on the Afghanistan-Iran border areas. The Secretary-General urges all the States and parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action which might be construed by others as provocative.

The Secretary-General notes in this context that Mullah Omar has asked the United Nations to mediate between Iran and the Taliban. While the United Nations is ready to do anything at its disposal to defuse the increasing tension, the Secretary-General calls on the Taliban to cease all military activities in Afghanistan immediately and without any precondition, in accordance with resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council.

In addition, the Secretary-General is concerned about the intensifying fighting in the central Afghan province of Bamyan between the Taliban and the Shiite Moslem faction Hezb-i-Wahdat. He appeals to the Afghan warring parties, in particular the Taliban, to respect the human rights of all Afghan ethnic and religious groups. This is all the more important in view of the fate of the Iranian diplomats, as well as the deeply disturbing reports about the mass killings of civilians, especially Hazaras, in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The Secretary-General also reminds the Taliban leaders of their own pledge that -- should their forces capture the region -- they would not damage the statues of Buddha and other priceless historical monuments in Bamyan. He stresses that the international community is closely watching how the Taliban will behave in this respect.

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