12. Afghanistan

B4-0189, 0191, 0211, 0220, 0228, 0233 and 0253/98

Resolution on the situation in Afghanistan

19-02-1998

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, especially its resolution of 23 October 1997(26),

- having regard to the common position of the Council of 26 January 1998,

A. reiterating its great concern about the continuing and increasing violations of human rights and international humanitarian conventions in those parts of Afghanistan, especially the capital Kabul, that are under Taliban control,

B. concerned in particular at the continuing deterioration of the situation of women, who are the victims of unprecedented discrimination and are denied their most fundamental rights by the Taliban who use as a pretext a particular interpretation of Islam which is rejected by a large proportion of the Islamic world,

C. deeply shocked by the fact that this discrimination finds expression in the ban on participation in civil society, total restriction on any freedom of movement and expression and the lack of access to education or basic health structures,

D. concerned by the obstacles placed by the Taliban on the activities of the non-governmental and international organizations; concerned in particular at the difficulties encountered by these organizations in channelling humanitarian aid to the people, in particular women, who are thus forced into destitution and isolation,

E. stressing that all the United Nations organizations working in the country should adopt a common approach that does not imply a tacit acceptance of Taliban policies,

F. whereas the European Union is the main donor of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan,

G. whereas Europe is the principal market for heroin produced from Afghan opium, and whereas only lasting peace in the region will allow the roots of this trade to be tackled,

H. welcoming the Commission's initiative with a view to the forthcoming Women's Day on 8 March, following proposals by the European Parliament, which seeks to increase public awareness of the distressing situation of Afghan women and to demonstrate the international community's solidarity with them,

I. whereas the Taliban regime is recognized by only three states and whereas it therefore does not enjoy any international legitimacy,

J. whereas, following the UN report of 14 November, the UN Special Envoy has convened three meetings of a contact group including the US, Russia and Afghanistan"s six neighbours to discuss the possibility of imposing a UN arms embargo on all the Afghan factions,

K. whereas on 26 January the Council adopted a common position stressing the need for the Taliban to respect human rights and international humanitarian conventions, in particular as regards the ban on all forms of discrimination based on sex,

L. whereas the North West regions of Afghanistan have been devastated by an earthquake which resulted in thousands of casualties and whereas both the weather and the geography of the country have delayed the arrival of assistance,

M. noting with concern that, despite an official ceasefire, some Taliban forces have abused the sad circumstances of this earthquake to intensify the fighting in the region and that a general resurgence of the fighting is likely in the coming months without progress towards a negotiated solution,

1. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the Taliban regime and its policy of systematic human rights abuses, which has led to women there being deprived of their most basic human rights including access to adequate health care and education;

2. Expresses, once again, its solidarity with the women of Afghanistan who continue to protest against the violation of their fundamental rights despite the dangers of doing so;

3. Supports the campaign 'a flower for the women of Kabul' and encourages all the initiatives, coming primarily from associations and NGOs, which will promote and publicize it, thus ensuring that Women's Day on 8 March will be dedicated to the women of Afghanistan;

4. Calls on the European Commission and the European Council to carry out an urgent appraisal of the current situation of women in Afghanistan and of measures which can be adopted to assist them;

5. Invites the Commission and the Council to report back to the European Parliament at the earliest opportunity on the findings of such an appraisal and on the effectiveness of the subsequent measures taken;

6. Supports the common position of the Council of 26 January 1998 which emphasizes the objectives of bringing about a sustainable peace in Afghanistan through the promotion of an intra-Afghan dialogue within the UN framework and support for an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment; also supports the common position"s call for the Afghan factions to end discriminatory policies and protect and promote human rights and its support for aid programmes which integrate gender concerns, promoting equal participation;

7. Notes with interest the latest UN peacemaking initiatives and hopes for their success while insisting that the Council and the Member States should be more directly involved;

8. Deeply concerned at the agreement concluded by the UNDCP and the Taliban; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to examine more closely the practical arrangements for the implementation of this agreement;

9. Calls for all aid and cooperation programmes (with the exception of humanitarian aid) to remain suspended until the government in Afghanistan shows respect for the human rights of men and women;

10. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the United Nations to do all in their power to ensure that international humanitarian aid is made accessible to Afghan women without discrimination;

11. Calls on the countries which have recognized the Taliban government to withdraw their support and calls also on the Council and the Member States to withhold recognition of the Taliban and any other regime in Afghanistan so long as gender discrimination is imposed in the country;

12. Is convinced that only sustained and consistent international pressure can be effective in persuading fundamentalist regimes such as the one operating in Afghanistan to modify their behaviour, especially with regard to violations of women's rights; calls therefore on the Commission and the Council to ensure that the issue of the violation of women"s rights in Afghanistan remains on the international agenda;

13. Expresses its deepest sympathy with the victims of the earthquake and their relatives; welcomes the immediate response by the Commission to make a first contribution to the international aid programme; calls, however, on the Council and the Commission to make further contributions if this may prove necessary;

14. Calls on all parties in the conflict to extend and respect the cease-fire in order to permit direct aid and support to be given to the civilian population in the region;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Governments of the United States, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Russia, India, United Arab Emirates, the Northern Alliance and the Taliban authorities.