Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan proposed a political solution
to the Afghan issue Monday at theUnited
Nations.
Tang, who attended a high-ranking international meeting on
Afghanistan, said that China, as a neighboring country of
Afghanistan, has always very much concerned over the situation in
the country.
He
maintained that efforts should be made to achieve the political
solution to the Afghan problem through negotiation and
dialogue.
Tang, who is at the U.N. headquarters in New York to attend the
general debate of the 56th General Assembly session, made the
statement at a meeting, which attracted senior representatives of
six neighboring countries of Afghanistan, as well as the United
States and the Russian Federation.
The meeting is known as "the Six Plus Two" meeting on Afghanistan.
The six countries are China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan -- all countries bordering Afghanistan.
The two countries are the United States and Russia.
The Chinese foreign minister said that under the current situation,
the following principles should be honored when efforts are made to
properly solve the Afghan problem:
First, efforts should be made to safeguard the sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. It is the
basic principles of the U.N. Charter and international law that
stipulate the respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial
integrity of a country, he said.
Secondly, the Afghan people should be able to decide on the
solution to their problem independently, he said.
Thirdly, the future Afghan government should be broad-based,
represent the interests of all ethnic groups in the country and
develop good relations with Afghanistan's neighboring countries, he
said.
Fourthly, efforts should be made to maintain the peace and
stability in the region, he said. Whether the stability can be
restored in Afghanistan is associated with the immediate interests
of all its neighboring countries, and will affect peace and
stability in the region, he added.
Last, the United Nations should play a more constructive role in
solving the Afghan problem. The United Nations and its Security
Council have long played a very important role in promoting the
peace process in Afghanistan, he said.
The process of solving the Afghan problem is very complicated, so
the positive role played by the United Nations will be very helpful
for most countries and all factions in Afghanistan to reach
consensus on relevant issues.
(
November 13, 2001)