Armed conflict continues.

• Position: Afghanistan civil war

The Security Council on 15 February deeply deplored the continuation of armed hostilities in Afghanistan, which had brought "death and destruction to the people and property of the country" and threatened the peace and security of the region, and called on the parties involved to end the hostilities forth with and not to obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kabul's innocent civilians.

In a statement by its President, Madeleine K. Albright of the United States, the Council also commended the efforts of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies in Afghanistan, which were "working under the most trying circumstances", and the airlift of food supplies from Peshawar to Kabul. It urged the international community to "continue its support of those life-saving efforts".

Particular concern was expressed about the intensification of shelling and air attacks in and around Kabul and the blockade of the city, which had prevented the delivery of foodstuffs, fuel and other humanitarian items to its population.

The Council was deeply concerned that the continued conflict in Afghanistan provided "fertile ground for terrorism, arms transfers and drug trafficking, which destabilize the whole region and beyond". It called on the Afghan leaders to put aside their differences and halt such activities.

The Council reaffirmed its support for the efforts of the UN Special Mission to Afghanistan, led by Mahmoud Mestiri, to bring about a "peaceful solution to the conflict through the establishment of a fully representative, broad-based, authoritative council acceptable to all Afghans", and called upon them to cooperate fully with the Special Mission as it worked towards that goal.

The Council urged the captors of the Russian aircraft crew members in Kandahar, detained since August 1995, to "release them immediately and without any preconditions".

Council debate

Support for the mandate given by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/88 B to establish a fully representative, broad-based authoritative council, through a peaceful dialogue among the Afghans, as the most appropriate way to achieve a lasting settlement in Afghanistan was expressed by many of the 27 speakers who addressed the Council on 9 April, as it held two meetings on the situation in that country. They also supported the UN Special Mission, which was trying to help national reconciliation and reconstruction.

Some speakers felt that foreign...