| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 15, 2001 |
Chinese FM Warns Potential Power Vacuum, Social Chaos in Afghanistan |
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"With the changing situation on the battlefield within Afghanistan, the question of a potential power vacuum has cropped up. There are ever greater dangers of large-scale social chaos in that country", Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan pointed out Tuesday at the United Nations.
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Tang Jiaxuan Addresses UN open debate on Afghanistan
Power vacuum could lead to social chaosChinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Tuesday at the United Nations that with the changing situation on the battlefield within Afghanistan, a potential power vacuum could lead to social chaos.
Addressing the Security Council-host open debate on Afghanistan held on the sideline of the general debate of the 56th U.N. General Assembly, Tang warned that the Afghan crisis, if not properly handled, could become a threat to peace and stability of the whole region.
"With the changing situation on the battlefield within Afghanistan, the question of a potential power vacuum has cropped up," he said. "There are ever greater dangers of large-scale social chaos in that country."
He urged the international community, the U.N. in particular, to accelerate the process of a political settlement of the Afghan question, including facilitating the establishment of a transitional administration, and set in motion Afghanistan's reconstruction as soon as possible.
"At this critical juncture, the U.N should play a leading role and should, together with the international community, provide necessary political, technical and financial assistance to Afghanistan on an urgent basis," he said.
"The Chinese Government is willing to, together with all sides, make constructive efforts for the promotion of the comprehensive and political solution to the issue of Afghanistan with the assistance by the United Nations," he concluded.
Political Solution to Afghan Problem Tang, who attended a high-ranking international meeting on Afghanistan, called for a political solution to the Afghan issue Monday at the United Nations, "efforts should be made to achieve the political solution to the Afghan problem through negotiation and dialogue".
Tang said that China, as a neighboring country of Afghanistan, has always very much concerned over the situation in the country.
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 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.
Relief Goods to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan The Chinese government has donated relief goods worth 12 million Renminbi yuan for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
A ceremony to sign the handing over certificate was held Tuesday in Islamabad when Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Lu Shulin and Pakistani Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Northern Areas, States and Frontier Regions present signed the documents on behalf of their respective governments.
The goods donated by China, including tents, blankets, quilts, tarps and so on, had been transported to Peshawar on November 5, 2001.
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