S/PV.3330 Security Council

At the outset of this meeting, I should like, on behalf of the Security Council, to extend deep sympathy to the Government and people of the United States of America in connection with the great tragedy it has experienced as a result of the major earthquake that occurred recently in California. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing our feelings of profound shock and sorrow at the great loss of human life and extensive material damage suffered. I would request the representative of the United States of America to convey to her Government our grief and sincere condolences. Mrs. ALBRIGHT (United States of America): I thank you, Mr. President, for your words, and will indeed convey them to my Government. The tragedy has been particularly traumatic for us. As you have watched its unfolding, as well as the response of my Government, I think you understand the depth of what has happened. On behalf of my Government I wish to express deep appreciation for the sentiments you have conveyed on behalf of the Council.

I thank the representative of the United States for her kind words. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted. THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Afghanistan, in which he requests to be invited to participate on the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Farhadi (Afghanistan) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council deplores the continuing large-scale fighting in Afghanistan, which is creating mass suffering among the civilian population and is jeopardizing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need. "The Council notes with concern that the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan disrupts efforts to establish a political process that would lead to a broad-based government, is producing another wave of refugees and displaced persons and detracts from efforts to foster regional stability. "The Council notes General Assembly resolution 48/208 requesting the Secretary-General to dispatch as soon as possible a United Nations special mission to Afghanistan to canvass a broad spectrum of Afghanistan's leaders to solicit their views on how the United Nations can best assist Afghanistan in facilitating national rapprochement and reconstruction. The Council welcomes the reaffirmation of (The President) support for such a mission issued on 12 January 1994 by the Secretary-General and his intention to dispatch this mission. "The Council calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Afghanistan and the beginning of a process to create a broad-based government acceptable to the Afghan people. "The Council appreciates the humanitarian assistance that the international community and the countries neighbouring Afghanistan have been providing to the most recent wave of refugees as well as displaced persons within Afghanistan and encourages them to increase their assistance even further. "The Council commends the efforts of the Secretary- General, his Personal Representative and the United Nations agencies active in Afghanistan to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict in that country. The Council attaches great importance to the continuation of their work. "The Council also commends the efforts of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and a number of concerned States to promote peace in Afghanistan through a political dialogue among the Afghan parties." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1994/4. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 5.20 p.m. (The President)