The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security",

Recalling its resolutions 43/20 of 3 November 1988 and 44/15 of 1 November 1989,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of any State,

Reaffirming also the inalienable right of all peoples to determine their own form of government and to choose their own economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever,

Gravely concerned at the situation in Afghanistan, which resulted from the violation of principles of the Charter and of the recognized norms of inter-State conduct,

Noting the conclusion at Geneva, on 14 April 1988, of the Agreements on the Settlement of the Situation Relating to Afghanistan and the completion of the withdrawal of foreign troops in accordance with those Agreements,

Aware of the continuing concern of the international community at the sufferings of the Afghan people and the magnitude of the social and economic problems posed to Pakistan and Iran by the presence on their soil of millions of Afghan refugees,

Deeply conscious of the urgent need for a comprehensive political solution of the situation in respect of Afghanistan,

Conscious that a successful final political settlement of the Afghanistan problem would have a favourable impact on the international situation and provide an impetus for the resolution of other acute regional conflicts,

Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative for their efforts to bring about peace and security,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General and the status of the process of political settlement,

1.         Emphasizes the importance of the Agreements on the Settlement of the Situation Relating to Afghanistan, hereinafter referred to as the "Geneva Agreements", concluded at Geneva on 14 April 1988 under United Nations auspices, which constitute an important step towards a comprehensive political solution of the Afghanistan problem;

2.         Expresses its deep appreciation to the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative for their constant efforts to achieve a political solution of the Afghanistan problem;

3.         Calls for the scrupulous respect for and faithful implementation of the Geneva Agreements by all parties concerned, who should fully abide by their letter and spirit;

4.         Reiterates that the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned and Islamic character of Afghanistan is essential for a peaceful solution of the Afghanistan problem;

5.         Reaffirms the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and to choose their economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever;

6.         Calls upon all parties concerned to work urgently for the achievement of a comprehensive political solution, the cessation of hostilities and the creation of the necessary conditions of peace and normalcy that would enable the Afghan refugees to return voluntarily to their homeland in safety and honour;

7.         Emphasizes the need for an early start of the intra-Afghan dialogue for the establishment, through democratic procedures acceptable to the Afghan people, including free and fair elections, of a broad-based government to ensure the broadest support and immediate participation of all segments of the Afghan people;

8.         Calls upon all parties concerned to exert every effort to promote a political settlement acceptable to the Afghan people in order to bring to an end the protracted conflict that has prevailed in Afghanistan for the past several years;

9.         Requests the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative to continue to encourage and facilitate the early realization of a comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Agreements and of the present resolution;

10.       Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan refugees and facilitating their voluntary return, and appeals to the parties concerned to take all necessary measures to ease their lot;

11.       Renews its appeal to all States and national and international organizations to continue to extend humanitarian relief assistance with a view to alleviating the hardship of the Afghan refugees, in co-ordination with the High Commissioner;

12.       Also expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Co-ordinator for Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes Relating to Afghanistan and calls upon all States to provide to the Co-ordinator adequate financial and material resources for the purposes of achieving the speedy repatriation and rehabilitation of the Afghan refugees, as well as for the economic and social reconstruction of the country;

13.       Requests the Secretary-General to keep Member States and the Security Council informed of progress towards the implementation of the present resolution and to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session a report on the situation in Afghanistan and on progress achieved in the implementation of the Geneva Agreements and the political settlement relating to Afghanistan;

14.       Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-sixth session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security".