Four-part Afghanistan agreement signed in Geneva.

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Four-part -- Afghanistan Agreement signed in Geneva

A UN SUCCESS

It took 17 minutes on the afternoon of Thursday, 14 April. Four men in dark business suits took their places at an octagonal table in the huge green-and-gold Salle du Grand Conseil of the Palais des Nations--United Nations headquarters in Geneva. One after another, they lifted their pens and signed tooled leather-covered copies of the United Nations-mediated agreement aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan. It was the same time the end of one of the most complex, delicate and lengthy negotiation processes in diplomatic history, and--as United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said--the first step in efforts to "bring about an end to the suffering of the Afghan people."

Four instruments call for: Troop withdrawal, beginning 15 May through 15 February 1989 Voluntary return of refugees Non-interference and non-intervention by both Afghanistan and Pakistan International guarantees by USSR and United States

The men signing the texts were Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Wakil, Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zain Noorani, USSR Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze, and United States Secretary of State George Shultz. The four instruments dealt with: non-interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and Pakistan; voluntary return of refugees; a phased withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, to be completed by l5 February l989; and international guarantees by the USSR and United States.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar, the blue-and-white flag of the United Nations behind him, presided over the formal scene in Geneva--symbolizing the crucial role played by the world Organization to find a political settlement for the eight-year-old civil war. At his side was Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs Diego Cordovez, his Personal Representative, who conducted the six years of negotiations, much of which in the form of "proximity talks" conducted separately with Afghanistan and Pakistan at Geneva. Consultations were also held in Kabul and Islamabad. Iran which was also hosting thousands of refugees, was kept informed. Mr. Cordovez also visited Moscow and Washington regularly.

Secretary-General presides at ceremony for signing of accords

A critical moment of history

The Agreements, the Secretary-General said, were "a most significant achievement" ...a "major stride in the effort to bring peace to Afghanistan and assure...