U.N. Envoy: Afghans Carry Responsibility for Future

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 05, 2001

U.N. Envoy: Afghans Carry Responsibility for Future

U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimisaid Wednesday Afghan factions signing a historic power-sharing agreement must now carry responsibility for bringing peace, reconciliation and democracy to their nation.

"The eyes of the world will be on you and you carry a huge responsibility," Brahimi told delegates after they signed a U.N.-brokered accord to set up a 30-member interim administration.

"The international community feels a tremendous sense of hope that an agreement has been reached here in Bonn," the U.N. specialrepresentative for Afghanistan said after a signing ceremony of the agreement.

"You must live up to your commitment to promote national reconciliation, protect human rights, encourage relations with your neighbors. You must serve your people in a democratic and transparent manner," said the former Algerian foreign minister.

Brahimi said the world had often ignored the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and it was vital to maintain the support of the international community as the country starts to rebuild after23 years of war.

The deal signed in the hilltop Petersberg hotel near Bonn creates a broad-based interim government that will take power in Kabul on December 22. Under the agreement, the Afghan representatives to the talks also invites the U.N. Security Council to mandate an international peacekeeping force to guarantee security in the Afghan capital and surrounding areas.