§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the UN on mediations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and opposition groups; [144020]
(2) if he will make a statement on UN mediations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and opposition groups. [144019]
§ Mr. Hain:[holding answers 8 January 2000]: We have frequent contacts with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative, Francesc Vendrell, and other members of the UN. We continue to underline our strong support for UN peace efforts in Afghanistan. We welcome the agreement brokered by Mr. Vendrell on 30 October in which the Taliban and Northern Alliance gave their written agreement to peace talks. We were disappointed, however, that the Taliban withdrew from this process in protest at the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1333 on 19 December. We urge both sides to co-operate with the UN and enter genuine peace negotiations for the sake of the long-suffering people of Afghanistan.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Afghanistan. [144021]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 8 January 2001]: We remain deeply concerned at the tragic situation in Afghanistan where years of warfare have had a devastating effect on the country as its people. We strongly support the UN's efforts to bring peace. We are particularly concerned that the Taliban continue to support terrorism, benefit from the drugs trade and violate human rights, especially those of women and girls. We support UNSCRs 1267/99 and 1333/00 which impose targeted sanctions on the Taliban because of their refusal to hand over to justice Osama Bin Laden and their continued support for international terrorism.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on proposals being considered by the UN Security Council from Russia and the US to increase existing sanctions against the Taliban. [144018]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 8 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 January 2001, Official Report, column 509W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding).
558W
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. [144017]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 8 January 2001]: Our High Commissioner in Islamabad met the senior Taliban representative to Pakistan on 10 November and 12 December. The High Commissioner underlined our strong concerns on Taliban support for terrorism and drugs trafficking, as well as their treatment of women and girls. On this last point, the High Commissioner said that the British Government regarded this as an affront to human rights. He urged the Taliban to reconsider their policy and, as a matter of urgency, rescind their edict banning Afghan women from working for international organisations. The High Commissioner also called on the Taliban to engage seriously in UN brokered peace talks.