Proximity talks relating to Afghanistan.

Proximity talks on the situation relating to Afghanistan were held from 24 to 30 August in Geneva.

Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, Diego Cordovez, the Personal Representative of Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on this matter, conducted the negotiations. He described them as "a diplomatic process initiated by the Secretary-General in order to reach a comprehensive settlement of the situation relating to Afghanistan".

The Afghan delegation, led by Foreign Minister Shah Mohammad Dost, and the Pakistani delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, were present at the Palais des Nations in separate rooms. Mr. Cordovez, who shuttled between the two chambers, reported that the new format had accelerated the process, eliminating delays in obtaining replies to specific points, and was the best diplomatic procedure under the circumstances.

In accordance with established practice, the Iranian Government was kept informed through the Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

In a report to the Assembly on his initiative (A/39/513-S/16754), the Secretary-General said the parties described the talks as "useful" and "business-like", and had indicated they were ready to hold another round in February 1985.

In his report, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said his efforts were "the only active mechanism of negotiations towards the achievement of a political settlement". That in itself, he said, "involves a heavy responsibility. I have consistently felt that the main concern, indeed the principal aim, of the United Nations in this context should be to end the suffering of the Afghan people".

In preparation for this third round of talks--the first having been held in June 1982, the second in two parts in 1983--Mr. Cordovez visited the area from 3 to 15 April 1984. In Islamabad, he met with Pakistan President Zia ul-Haq, Foreign Minister Yaqub-Khan and other senior Government officials. In Kabul, he met with Afghan President Babrak Karmal and Foreign Minister Dost. In Teheran, he met with Foreign Minister Ali akbar Velayati and other senior Foreign Ministry officials.

At this stage, a number of specific steps, both substantive and procedural, were agreed upon in order to give impetus to the diplomatic process. Efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement, it was also agreed, should focus on the main outstanding issues, the Secretary-General reported.

Iran reiterated its desire and determination to see an early solution and reaffirmed that it remained solely in support of the legitimate interests and objectives of the Afghan people.

The "set of understandings" worked out in Kabul and Islamabad in april 1984 became the basis for the August proximity talks. The underlying purpose of the set of understandings was to attempt to solve, within the context of the formulation of the various instruments required for the implementation of the comprehensive settlement, the serious difficulties that had arisen last year, Mr. Perez de Cuellar stated.

"This procedure would allow all concerned more clearly to assess the nature, intent and interrelationships of the specific actions envisaged in the settlement", he stated.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar also reported that during his July visit to the Soviet Union, he exchanged views on the situation with President Konstantin Chernenko and Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko. "The Soviet Government encouraged me to continue my efforts and reaffirmed its support for a negotiated political settlement". The Secretary-General said he and his Personal Representative during the past year had also enlisted the support of all those Governments "which can contribute to resolving the issue involved".

A spokesman for the Secretary-General said the August proximity discussions had been "technical in nature" and that Mr. Cordovez considered the meetings as an "interim stage but an essential one in the process".

During the talks, the Secretary-General stated in his report, the interlocuters had carried out a "preliminary review of various draft instruments and examined a number of related questions, including form, legal status and formalities". They also agreed that, on the completion of the formulation of all the agreements and other instruments, it would be necessary to ascertain whether the contents of the various instruments conformed to the interrelationships envisaged in the comprehensive settlement.

The four issues identified for consideration since the beginning of the diplomatic process are: withdrawal of foreign troops; non-interference in internal affairs of States; international guarantees of non-intervention; and voluntary return of refugees.

At a press conference on 17 September, Mr. Perez de Cuellar--who had been the first Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to deal with this issue--said: "We are working on the basis of a package which consists of several points on which the parties have already agreed. We think it important that all aspects of the problem be considered as a package; thus the package character of the negotiations is extremely important."

The negotiations, he added, were "the only way to find a political solution of this problem which so much affects the people of Afghanistan".