Strasbourg, 05/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who is fighting against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, held talks on Thursday morning in Strasbourg with European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine (who took the initiative to invite him), as well as with all the political groups of the Parliament. Mr Massoud, who sees the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, on Friday in Brussels, said during a joint press conference with Ms Fontaine that this interest shown by the Parliament for the suffering of his people was "very good news". He hoped this would open a "new phase" towards peace in Afghanistan. The Taliban have a "very specific and very wrong" interpretation of Islam, said Commander Massoud. Also, in response to questions, he denied statements whereby they control 90-95% of the territory. In fact, he said, it is only around 50%.
Ms Fontaine recalled that the Parliament expressed, on several occasions, its concern for the repeated violations of human rights and human dignity in Afghanistan. The destruction of the Bramiyan buddhas was the "straw that broke the camel's back", she exclaimed, considering that the Parliament must, in addition to its declarations, move towards the "political recognition of what is embodied by Commander Massoud, and his combat for a moderate Islam". The president said she was extremely pleased that the French authorities had also invited Commander Massoud to Paris, which strengthens this recognition. She pointed out that, after having learnt of this invitation, the Pakistan ambassador with the EU had written to her saying among other things that "peace in Afghanistan would be greatly helped if the international community engaged with all parties of the Afghan conflict, keeping in view the ground realities and maintaining an essential degree of neutrality towards the various parties in the conflict". "An even-handed approach would enhance the European Parliament's capacity to play an important role in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan", said Ambassador Saidulla Khan Delhavi in his letter (in which he also denounces the consequences of UN sanctions for the "common man in Afghanistan", and recalls that Pakistan has sought to prevent the destruction of the Buddhas). The European Parliament will not "shirk" its obligations if there is the possibility of achieving results, said Ms Fontaine, who announced that, in her response to the Pakistani ambassador, she will solemnly call on Pakistan to cease providing aid to the "fanatical and obscurantist" regime in Kabul.
Afghanistan is not the only target of the Talibans, it is the region as a whole, Commander Massoud told the press. He regretted the supported given to them by Pakistan and above all the military and the intelligence service. "I appreciate the fact that this threat has been understood by the Parliament", he remarked. '"I am sure that, without Pakistan's support, the military campaign of the Taliban would not hold out even one year", he declared. In response to a large number of questions, Commander Massoud said he wished to do everything to reach a political solution in Afghanistan, and not call for the intervention of foreign troops. However, to the question of knowing whether he would accept aid in military equipment, if offered, he said he would accept anything that could help to reach a pacific solution.
In answer to questions on the situation of women in the territories under his control, Commander Massoud pointed out that they can work and study (for example, despite the war there is a faculty of medicine attended also by young women). Would women have a place in his government? I do not see any difference between men and women in this respect; they have the same rights", he replied. Furthermore, concerning the kind of regime that he would set in place, he specified that it would be the result of free elections, at which men and women could vote, and that he would respect human rights, fight against drugs and terrorism, that the would have friendly relations with his neighbouring countries and that he would devote himself to the task of rehabilitating and rebuilding his country.