A
 
            Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and
            reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 47/119 of 18 December 1992, 48/208 of 21
December 1993, 49/140 of 20 December 1994 and 50/88 A of 19 December 1995
concerning emergency international assistance for the reconstruction of
war-stricken Afghanistan,
 
      Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,
 
      Concerned about the continuation and recent intensification of the
military confrontation in Afghanistan, threatening regional peace and
stability, and the attendant displacement of families and interruptions in the
process of repatriating refugees,
 
      Deeply concerned about the massive loss of human life, the aggravated
suffering of the most vulnerable groups, the destruction of property and the
serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure of Afghanistan caused
by seventeen years of war, and stressing the importance of a return to peace
and stability for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan,
bearing in mind that the country continues to suffer from an extremely
critical economic situation as a landlocked, least developed and war-stricken
country, 
 
      Supporting the efforts of the United Nations Special Mission to
Afghanistan headed by Mr. Norbert Holl to bring about the restoration of
peace, normalcy and national reconciliation and the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of war-stricken Afghanistan,
 
      Deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel
landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan, which continue to prevent
many Afghan refugees from returning to their villages and working in their
fields, and disturbed by reports of new mines being laid,
 
      Concerned for the well-being of the unarmed civilian population of
Afghanistan, in particular of Kabul, who face a long winter possibly deprived
of basic foods, fuel and medicine owing to a renewal of hostilities around the
capital, 
 
      Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and
normalcy in Afghanistan and the ability of the country to take effective steps
towards revitalizing the economy, and stressing that a cessation of armed
hostilities between the warring parties in Afghanistan and political stability
are indispensable if reconstruction measures are to have a lasting effect,
 
      Affirming the urgent need to continue international action to assist
Afghanistan in restoring basic services and the infrastructure of the country,
and welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme and
other United Nations agencies, associated bodies and other humanitarian
organizations and agencies, including relevant non-governmental organizations,
in this respect,
 
      Expressing its appreciation for the assistance of the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in its continuing support for
the repatriation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries,
 
      Reaffirming the principle of non-refoulement as contained in article 33
of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,
 
      Expressing its gratitude to all Governments that have rendered
assistance to Afghan refugees, in particular the Governments of Pakistan and
the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recognizing the need for continuing
international assistance for the maintenance abroad and the voluntary
repatriation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons,
 
      Expressing its appreciation to the States, intergovernmental
organizations and associated bodies of the United Nations, as well as to other
humanitarian organizations and agencies, including relevant non-governmental
organizations, that have responded positively and continue to respond to the
humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for his
efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the acute
problems of reconstruction in Afghanistan and for mobilizing and coordinating
the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance,
 
      1.    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General, and endorses
the observations and recommendations set out therein;
 
      2.    Requests the Secretary-General to authorize the United Nations
Special Mission to Afghanistan, established under resolution 48/208, to
continue its efforts to facilitate national reconciliation and reconstruction
in Afghanistan;
 
      3.    Also requests the Secretary-General to continue efforts to develop
plans for national reconstruction and rehabilitation beginning in areas of
peace and security, on the basis of the recommendations set out in his report;
 
      4.    Calls upon the leaders of all Afghan parties to place the highest
priority on national reconciliation, acknowledging the war-weariness of the
Afghan people and their desire for rehabilitation, reconstruction and economic
and social development;
 
      5.    Demands that all Afghan parties fulfil their obligations and
honour their commitments regarding the safety and full freedom of movement of
United Nations personnel and other international personnel, as well as the
security of their premises in Afghanistan, and cooperate fully with the United
Nations and associated bodies as well as with other humanitarian organizations
and agencies in their efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs of the
people of Afghanistan;
 
      6.    Calls upon all parties not to hamper the delivery of humanitarian
assistance;
 
      7.    Expresses grave concern at the indiscriminate use of landmines in
Afghanistan, which seriously impedes the delivery of humanitarian assistance;
 
      8.    Urgently appeals to all States, organizations and programmes of
the United Nations system, specialized agencies and other intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, on a priority basis
and as far as conditions on the ground permit, all possible financial,
technical and material assistance for the restoration of basic services and
the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the voluntary, safe and secure return of
refugees and internally displaced persons, with dignity and honour, and
appeals to the international financial and development institutions to assist
in the planning of the reconstruction of Afghanistan;
 
      9.    Calls upon the international community to respond to the
inter-agency consolidated appeal for emergency humanitarian and rehabilitation
assistance for Afghanistan launched by the Secretary-General for the period
from 1 January to 31 December 1997, bearing in mind the availability also of
the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund;
 
      10.   Denounces the discrimination against girls and women and other
violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan,
and notes with deep concern possible repercussions on international relief and
reconstruction programmes in Afghanistan;
 
      11.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly
at its fifty-second session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the
present resolution;
 
      12.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session, under the cluster of items on coordination of humanitarian
assistance, the item entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace,
normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan".
 
 
                                         B
 
            The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for
            international peace and security
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 49/140 of 20 December 1994 and 50/88 B of 19
December 1995,
 
      Recalling also Security Council resolution 1076 (1996) of 22 October
1996, the previous statements of the President of the Security Council on the
situation in Afghanistan, including the statements of 15 February and 28
September 1996, and the letter dated 22 August 1996 from the President of the
Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General,
 
      Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 26 November 1996
and of his letters dated 20 November 1996 addressed to the President of the
General Assembly and the President of the Security Council,
 
      Noting all recent declarations by participants of regional international
meetings and by international organizations on the situation in Afghanistan,
including the statement by the Organization of the Islamic Conference
ministerial meeting of 2 October 1996, the joint declaration made on 4 October
1996 by the leaders of Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the statement issued on 28 October 1996 by the
Presidency on behalf of the European Union and the Tehran Declaration of 30
October 1996,
 
      Welcoming the initiative of the Secretary-General to convene the
international meeting on Afghanistan on 18 November 1996 in New York and his
intention to convene further meetings of the group from time to time,
 
      Wishing the people of Afghanistan peace and prosperity,
 
      Strongly committed to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
 
      Expressing concern at the continuation and recent intensification of the
military confrontation in Afghanistan, which have caused civilian casualties
and an increase in refugees and displaced persons, and which seriously
endanger the stability and peaceful development of the region,
 
      Deeply concerned about the discrimination against women and girls and
other recurring abuses of human rights in Afghanistan, and emphasizing the
importance of democracy and of the realization of human rights in any future
political process in Afghanistan,
 
      Deeply concerned also about the lack of progress in reaching an
agreement on the establishment of an acceptable and broadly representative
council and an immediate and durable ceasefire and urging all Afghan parties
to resolve their differences through peaceful means and achieve national
reconciliation through political dialogue,
 
      Affirming the readiness of the United Nations to assist the people of
Afghanistan in their effort to resolve internal political differences,
facilitating national reconciliation leading to the restoration of a fully
representative, broad- based transitional government of national unity and to
the start of the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction in their
country, 
 
      Convinced that the United Nations, as a universally recognized
intermediary, must continue to play a central and impartial role in
international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict,
 
      Expressing its support for the continuing efforts of the United Nations
Special Mission to Afghanistan headed by Mr. Norbert Holl to bring about the
restoration of peace, normalcy and national reconciliation, through a
political process in which all segments of Afghan society are represented,
 
      Expressing its appreciation for the efforts of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference in support of the Special Mission and the engagement of
that organization in Afghanistan, in coordination with the United Nations,
with a view to achieving a just and lasting political settlement,
 
      Stressing the need to prevent further civilian casualties,
 
      Stressing also the importance of non-intervention and non-interference
in the internal affairs of Afghanistan,
 
      Deeply concerned at the continued supply of weapons, military equipment
and ammunition to the Afghan parties, which has further contributed to the
deaths of innocent civilians and the destruction of cities, villages and homes
and has encouraged the factions in their futile efforts to settle political
differences by military means,
 
      Expressing its mounting concern about actions undermining the security
of State frontiers, including the growing illicit traffic in arms and
narcotics by criminal elements and groups from certain areas of Afghanistan
and about the use of Afghan territory for the training and harbouring of
terrorists, which create a threat to peace and stability in the entire region,
including Afghanistan,
 
      Bearing in mind that Afghanistan, as a State party to the Convention for
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 16 November 1972,
has recognized its primary duty to ensure the identification, protection,
conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of, inter
alia, the cultural heritage situated on its territory,
 
      Bearing in mind also the close interrelationship between ensuring peace
and normalcy in Afghanistan and the ability of the country to take effective
steps towards revitalizing the economy, and stressing that a cessation of
armed hostilities between the warring parties in Afghanistan and political
stability are indispensable if reconstruction measures are to have a lasting
effect,
 
      1.    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General, and endorses
the observations and recommendations set out therein;
 
      2.    Stresses that the main responsibility for finding a political
solution to the conflict lies with the Afghan parties;
 
      3.    Calls upon all Afghan parties to cease immediately all armed
hostilities, to renounce the use of force, to put aside their differences and
to engage in a political dialogue aimed at achieving national reconciliation
and a lasting political settlement of the conflict and establishing a fully
representative and broad-based transitional government of national unity;
 
      4.    Supports the Secretary-General in his continuing efforts,
undertaken in cooperation with the Afghan parties and with interested States
and international organizations, in particular the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, to promote the political process aimed at achieving national
reconciliation in Afghanistan;
 
      5.    Reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the United Nations,
in particular the activities of the United Nations Special Mission to
Afghanistan, in facilitating, where appropriate in cooperation with interested
States and international organizations, the political process towards the
goals of national reconciliation and a lasting political settlement with the
participation of all parties to the conflict and all segments of Afghan
society; 
 
      6.    Calls upon all Afghan parties to cooperate with the United Nations
Special Mission, and encourages all interested States and international
organizations to take all steps necessary, in close coordination with the
United Nations Special Mission, to promote peace in Afghanistan, to support
the United Nations efforts to this end and to use any influence they have to
encourage the parties to cooperate fully with the United Nations Special
Mission; 
 
      7.    Demands that all Afghan parties fulfil their obligations and
honour their commitments regarding the safety and full freedom of movement of
United Nations personnel, in particular the personnel of the United Nations
Special Mission, as well as the security of their premises in Afghanistan;
 
      8.    Requests the Secretary-General to authorize the United Nations
Special Mission to Afghanistan, established under resolution 48/208, to
continue its efforts to facilitate national reconciliation and reconstruction
in Afghanistan, specifically to mediate an end to the conflict and to
facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive peaceful settlement, to be
agreed upon by the Afghan parties, which could include, inter alia, the
following elements:
 
      -     An immediate and durable ceasefire among the Afghan parties, to be
            supervised by a commission composed of representatives of all the
            warring parties, facilitated by the United Nations and the
            Organization of the Islamic Conference;
 
      -     The demilitarization of Kabul, with adequate safeguards to ensure
            security and public order;
 
      -     The establishment of a broad-based and fully representative
            authoritative council, with authority, inter alia:
 
                  To create and control a national security force to provide
                  for security throughout the country and oversee the
                  demobilization of all the warring parties through the
                  collection and safeguarding of all heavy weapons in the
                  country, and to stop the flow of arms and of equipment
                  related to arms production to the parties;
 
                  To form a fully representative and broad-based transitional
                  government which would, inter alia, control the national
                  security force and create conditions for free and fair
                  elections leading to a representative national government,
                  possibly utilizing traditional decision-making structures,
                  such as a grand assembly, to help to establish those
                  conditions throughout the country;
 
      9.    Expresses its support for the proposal by the Secretary-General to
further strengthen the United Nations Special Mission by increasing the number
of its military advisers from the current two to five and also by assigning to
it two civilian police advisers;
 
      10.   Reiterates its call upon all Afghans, especially the leaders of
warring parties, to cooperate fully with the broad-based authoritative
council, priority being given to the implementation of the steps referred to
in paragraph 8 above;
 
      11.   Deplores the civilian casualties inflicted by the indiscriminate
use of landmines, and calls upon all Afghan parties to desist from such use;
 
      12.   Denounces the discrimination against girls and women and other
violations of human rights in Afghanistan, and calls upon all Afghan parties
to respect the human rights of every individual, regardless of gender,
ethnicity or religion;
 
      13.   Denounces also violations of international humanitarian law in
Afghanistan, and urgently calls upon all parties strictly to respect all its
provisions;
 
      14.   Calls upon all Afghan parties to take appropriate steps to
prohibit, prevent and, if necessary, put a stop to any form of theft, pillage
or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism directed against, cultural
property of the Afghan nation;
 
      15.   Calls upon all States strictly to refrain from any outside
interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, including the involvement
of foreign military personnel, to respect the right of the Afghan people to
determine their own destiny and to respect the sovereignty, independence,
territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan;
 
      16.   Also calls upon all States immediately to end the supply of arms,
ammunition, military equipment, training or any other military support to all
parties to the conflict in Afghanistan;
 
      17.   Reiterates that the continuation of the conflict in Afghanistan
provides a fertile ground for terrorism and drug-trafficking which destabilize
the region and beyond, and calls upon the leaders of the Afghan parties to
halt such activities;
 
      18.   Supports the intention of the Secretary-General to move the
headquarters of the United Nations Special Mission to Kabul when conditions
permit;
 
      19.   Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly
every three months during its fifty-first session on the progress of the
United Nations Special Mission and to report to the Assembly at its
fifty-second session on the progress made in the implementation of the present
resolution;
 
      20.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications
for international peace and security".