General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

3 November 1988

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                      A/RES/43/20
                                                      45th plenary meeting
                                                      3 November 1988
 
              43/20.  The situation in Afghanistan and its implications
                      for international peace and security
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Having considered the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its
 implications for international peace and security",
 
      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 further 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 results from the
 violation of principles of the Charter of the United Nations 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 partial
 withdrawal of foreign troops in accordance with the agreed time-frame,
 
      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.   Welcomes the conclusion at Geneva, on 14 April 1988, under United
 Nations auspices, of the Agreements on the Settlement of the Situation
 Relating to Afghanistan, 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 Agreements by all parties concerned who should fully abide by their letter
 and spirit;
 
      4.   Notes the continuing process of withdrawal of foreign troops from
 Afghanistan and expresses its expectation that the withdrawal will be
 completed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Agreements;
 
      5.   Reiterates that the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial
 integrity, political independence and non-aligned character of Afghanistan is
 essential for a peaceful solution of the Afghanistan problem;
 
      6.   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;
 
      7.   Calls upon all parties concerned to work for the urgent achievement
 of a comprehensive political solution 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;
 
      8.   Emphasizes the need for an intra-Afghan dialogue for the
 establishment of a broad-based government to ensure the broadest support and
 immediate participation of all segments of the Afghan people;
 
      9.   Requests the Secretary-General and his Representative to encourage
 and facilitate the early realization of a comprehensive political settlement
 in Afghanistan in accordance with the provisions of the Agreements and of the
 present resolution;
 
      10.  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
 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
 
      11.  Welcomes the appointment of a special co-ordinator for channelling
 economic and humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan;
 
      12.  Calls upon all States to provide adequate financial and material
 resources to the Co-ordinator for Humanitarian and Economic Assistance
 Programmes Relating to Afghanistan 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-fourth
 session a report on the situation in Afghanistan, on progress achieved in the
 implementation of the Agreements and the political settlement relating to
 Afghanistan;
 
      14.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth
 session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications
 for international peace and security".