COMMON POSITION of 26 January 1998 defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union, on Afghanistan (98/108/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article J.2 thereof,

Whereas the conflict in Afghanistan has caused untold suffering for the Afghan people, and threatens the stability of the region and its economic development;

Whereas the war's exports of terrorism and illegal drugs cause serious damage to Member States of the Union, and more widely;

Whereas the Union is determined to play an effective role in efforts to stop the fighting, and to restore peace, stability and respect for human rights and international principles in Afghanistan;

Whereas the Union attaches the highest importance to respect for the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, and denounces the continuing discrimination against girls and women in Afghanistan;

Whereas the Union is deeply concerned by the blockade imposed on the Hazarajat region, the recent bombing of Bamiyan airport which has disrupted aid supplies, as well as by reports of massacres of innocent civilians and mass execution of prisoners of war,

HAS DEFINED THE FOLLOWING COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The objectives of the Union in Afghanistan are:

- to bring about a sustainable peace in Afghanistan, put an end to foreign intervention, and encourage intra-Afghan dialogue through support for the central role of the United Nations,

- to promote the stability and development of the region,

- to promote respect for human rights, including the rights of women, and international humanitarian law,

- to provide effective humanitarian aid and ensure that the international coordination of aid allows for its distribution in accordance with international principles on gender and human rights,

- to reinforce the fight against illegal drugs and terrorism,

- to assist in peace building activities and the reconstruction of the country after years of civil war.

Article 2

In order to support the United Nations peace efforts, the Union shall continue to:

- support the recommendations in the United Nations Secretary General's report of 14 November 1997 on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. In particular, the Union considers it imperative that all countries with an influence on the parties should exercise it in a positive and constructive manner in support of the UN's peace efforts, and that the supply of weapons, fuel and other materials for military use to the warring factions from outside Afghanistan should cease,

- take into consideration the report of the UN Credentials Committee on the representation of Afghanistan at the United Nations,

- support the embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment provided for in its common position of 17 December 1996 on Afghanistan, and urge other countries to adopt a similar policy of restraint.

The Union shall also:

- make contacts with the Afghan parties and prominent Afghan figures to point to the futility and appalling humanitarian effects of the continued fighting, and urge an immediate cease-fire and the negotiation of a political settlement under UN auspices, including the establishment of a fully representative, broad-based transitional government,

- follow closely efforts by influential Afghan individuals and organisations, such as the so-called Frankfurt Process, to contribute to an intra-Afghan dialogue,

- conduct démarches in the capitals of all those countries with influence in Afghanistan, underlining the importance the Union attaches to the early settlement of the conflict under UN auspices, and urging them to lend the UN every support.

Article 3

In order to promote respect for all human rights, fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law the Union shall:

- call on all parties to recognise, protect and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms including the right to life, liberty and security of persons and also to respect the UN Declaration on Human Rights, which has been repeatedly endorsed by the international community, including Afghanistan,

- urge Afghan factions, to end discriminatory policies and recognise, protect and promote the equal rights and dignity of men and women, including access to education and health facilities, employment outside the home, personal security and freedom from intimidation and harassment, and will point to the implications of discriminatory policies for the distribution of aid,

- continue to contribute to and support the work on the Assistance Strategy on Afghanistan drafted by the UN Coordinator for Afghanistan, which will provide a code of conduct on human rights for humanitarian assistance,

- support aid programmes in Afghanistan which integrate gender concerns and actively attempt to promote the equitable participation of both men and women, and which promote peace and human rights.

Article 4

In order to help the suffering civilian population of Afghanistan, the Union shall:

- continue to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan,

- improve the effectiveness of aid by closer international coordination, in particular by working through the Afghan Donor Support Group whose next meeting will take place in London in May 1998,

- ensure close coordination and complementarity between the UN peace efforts and the aid effort,

- ensure that aid supports the assistance strategy organised by the UN Coordinator for Afghanistan, and urge other donors to do likewise.

Article 5

In order to promote the fight against drugs, the Union, shall:

- use contacts with the factions and those countries with influence on them to underline the Union's concern at the increasing production and trafficking of drugs in Afghanistan which threatens regional stability and damages the health and well-being of the populations of Afghanistan, neighbouring states and elsewhere, and also to stress that the Union will take account of drugs control objectives when considering contributions to development aid to reconstruct Afghanistan after the war,

- urge aid agencies to take account of drug control objectives in the planning and implementation of projects by taking into consideration their impact on drug cultivation, production, trafficking and abuse,

- support sustainable alternative development as an important component of a balanced and comprehensive drug control strategy. Alternative development programmes should be adapted to the specific conditions in Afghanistan, should respect human rights and incorporate the gender dimension enabling women and men to participate equally in the development process. Law enforcement measures are a necessary complement to such programmes,

- support all consistent efforts, including those of the United Nations Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP), aimed at reducing substantially the production, trafficking and abuse of drugs in Afghanistan, and notes the importance of implementation of the Community's projects in support of the Union's Central Asia Drugs Initiative.

Article 6

The Council notes that the Commission will direct its action towards achieving the objectives and the priorities of this common position by appropriate Community measures.

Article 7

The Union shall call upon all Afghan authorities to close down training camps for foreign terrorists inside Afghanistan.

Article 8

This Common Position shall be reviewed within 12 months.

Article 9

This Common Position shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

Article 10

This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 26 January 1998.

For the Council

The President

R. COOK