13 November 2001

Negroponte's Remarks on Afghanistan before the UNSC

United Nations -- With the Taliban regime in Afghanistan collapsing, the international community and the United Nations must move quickly to promote peace and stability and get much needed humanitarian assistance into the country, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said November 13.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, Negroponte said that the international community "also must call for restraint on the part of the Afghan liberation forces as they take up their new positions and continue their offensive. Afghanistan does not need another cycle of revenge and retribution as the Taliban collapses."

The Council held the day-long session to hear a report from UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, and solicit comments from other nations on how to proceed. Brahimi told the Council that the UN will try to convene a meeting as soon as possible with representatives of the Northern Alliance and other groups to map out a political transition for Afghanistan.

Following is the USUN text of Negroponte's remarks:

Thank you for convening this session and giving us the opportunity to address the pressing and rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan. We all support the Secretary General and Ambassador Brahimi in their efforts to promote peace, freedom and stability in that suffering country. We thank Mr. Brahimi for his excellent report this morning.

We meet here at a crucial time. Events are unfolding quickly even as we speak. On Saturday, President Bush said it clearly: the Al Qaeda terrorists and Taliban which harbors them are virtually indistinguishable. In his words: "the Taliban's days of harboring terrorists are drawing to a close." Now just 72 hours later, we are watching the collapse of the Taliban in much of Afghanistan.

Several things need to be done now, by the United Nations, by the international community, and by humanitarian assistance agencies. We all must support the United Nations and Ambassador Brahimi in urgent efforts to bring together as soon as possible Afghans to form an interim authority for liberated areas. That authority must be representative of and acceptable to Afghans. And it must be supported by all of us, and especially the countries of the region, or it will not succeed. And an international presence must be re-established as soon as possible.

We also must call for restraint on the part of the Afghan liberation forces as they take up their new positions and continue their offensive. Afghanistan does not need another cycle of revenge and retribution as the Taliban collapses.

We must act immediately to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance as the country is liberated. The United States applauds the courage and determination of the international assistance community, and urges it to accelerate the already begun re-entry of assistance personnel and supplies into Afghanistan. My country is eager to continue doing its part.

The United States also urges those in a position to do so to support efforts to ensure the safety and security of the liberated areas and especially to protect Afghan civilians and international personnel.

We are at a historic moment. As terrorism is set to flight, Afghans must know that we will help them rebuild, and support their efforts to achieve the peace which has been so long denied them.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.