The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on the implications of the situation in Afghanistan for Europe and the region, calling on to intensify efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the country, RIA Novosti reported.
The resolution was adopted during an urgent debate on the situation in Afghanistan at a meeting of the autumn session of the PACE in Strasbourg. The project was supported by 74 votes, 14 were against, 12 abstained.
The Parliamentary Assembly expresses deep concern over the situation in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the United States of America and its allies and NATO partners and the return of the Taliban to power, which has opened a phase of political uncertainty in which violence continues and the possibility of civil war is possible. This state of affairs leads to increased risks to peace, stability, and security in Afghanistan, the region, and beyond, the text of the adopted resolution noted.
The priority task in Afghanistan is to resolve the humanitarian crisis.
The Assembly calls on the member states of the Council of Europe to work towards achieving a coherent, coordinated, and coherent response to Afghanistan; to intensify efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan; continue the evacuation of eligible foreign citizens and Afghans and make additional efforts to ensure the coordination and efficiency of evacuation operations, the resolution says.
In particular, an amendment was approved calling for the introduction of visas for Afghan students studying at universities in member states.
PACE also called for support for the creation of a concrete, reliable, independent UN mandate to monitor human rights violations in Afghanistan.
The document calls for the establishment of careful, pragmatic, and operational interaction with the Taliban to resolve the problems specified in the resolution.
The Assembly calls on the Taliban to end the violence and engage in a national dialogue to create a representative and inclusive government that includes women, members of religious and ethnic minorities as well as representatives of the previous government. It urged to pardon government officials, ensure the free departure of Afghans and foreigners who wish to leave the country and ensure respect for human rights and humanitarian law.
PACE also asks to ensure full, safe, and unhindered access to all regions of Afghanistan for the UN, its specialized agencies and implementing partners, as well as all humanitarian organizations, and to respond to requests for information and cooperation from the UN.
