Iran Mourns the Diplomats Murdered by the Taliban

Canada Joins the EU, and other Countries in Condemning the Taliban for the Murder of Iranians in Afghanistan
September 11, 1998

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the Taliban in Afghanistan for the murder of representatives of the Iranian consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.  He also indicated Canada's support for the United Nations Security Council's call for an urgent investigation into these crimes.

"The killing of these Iranian officials demonstrates blatant disregard of international law, and the Taliban cannot be excused for its failure to control its soldiers," said Mr. Axworthy.  "Canada condemns these actions and any other forms of violence against individuals in Afghanistan."

After having repeatedly denied any knowledge of their whereabouts, the Taliban admitted yesterday (September 10) that its military forces had killed the missing Iranians.  The Taliban leadership claim that its soldiers committed the murders on their own and without any orders.  The confirmation of the murder of these representatives follows on earlier reports of mass killings of civilians when Taliban forces captured Mazar-e-Sharif on August 8.

"On behalf of Canada, I express our condolences to the people of Iran for the loss of their representatives," said Mr. Axworthy.   "I repeat that the Afghan crisis must be resolved by peaceful means and that neighboring states must refrain from any actions which could exacerbate the situation."

Diplomats Commemoration

Memorial ceremony held for martyred diplomats, reporter Tehran, Sept. 16, irna -- special ceremony was held here at foreign
ministry Wednesday to commemorate the Iranian diplomats and irna correspondent who were murdered by the Taliban militia in Mazar-i sharif.  Foreign minister kamal kharrazi, his deputies and advisors, the staff of the foreign ministry as well as the bereaved families of the martyrs attended the memorial ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, head of the islamic propagation
organization hojjatoleslam mahmoud mohammadi araqi criticized ''some arab countries which refuse to explicitly condemn the taliban crimes being perpetrated under the banner of islam.''

UN, EU Seek Probe into Iranian Martyrdom in Afghanistan

TEHRAN The European Union said on Friday it wanted an investigation into the killing of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan, and anyone found guilty brought to trial. In a statement, the EU said it was dismayed to learn of the diplomats' deaths and said the act was criminal. The EU calls for an urgent investigation into these crimes and a consequent indictment of those responsible, the EU said. The EU also urged the Taleban who control most of the country to ensure the release and safe return of remaining diplomats and other Iranian nationals still missing in Afghanistan. -UN ANNAN CONDEMNS IRANIAN MARTYRDOM Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday condemned the murders of nine Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan, called for an urgent investigation and said the country's Taleban rulers had asked him to mediate in their conflict with Tehran. Annan also appealed to the Taleban to ensure the safe return of two other Iranian diplomats and a journalist who are still missing, saying he would cooperate in that venture. After denying knowledge of the diplomats for weeks, the Taleban's spiritual leader, Mohammad Omar Mujahid, told Annan the Iranians were killed after Taleban militia seized the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Aug. 8 by unidentified soldiers who acted on their own. The secretary-general strongly condemns these cruel murders and violations of international law, a UN statement said. He calls for an urgent investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice. The United Nations is attempting to organize a fact-finding mission in conjunction with Iran and Pakistan on the killings. Iran requested the probe and Pakistan, an ally of the Taleban, agreed. UN officials are determining whether security can be guaranteed. Annan did not say what other kind of mediation the United Nations might undertake in response to the request by the Taleban, which controls most of Afghanistan. While the United Nations is ready to do anything at its disposal to defuse the increasing tension, the secretary-general calls on the Taleban to cease all military activities in Afghanistan immediately and without any precondition, he said. On Thursday, Security Council members condemned the killings and also asked for an urgent investigation into these crimes in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. A statement read to reporters by Council President Hans Dahlgren of Sweden came in swift reaction to a letter he received from Iranian UN envoy Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian calling the killings a war crime and demanding urgent but unspecified action by the council. Iran demanded Saturday that the Taleban extradite the murderers of nine Iranian diplomats and an Iranian journalist killed in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif last month. Iran demands that they be arrested and extradited to Iran to be punished, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh said. Iran's Intelligence Minister Qorban-Ali Dorrie-Najafabadi also called on the Taleban to apologize, return the bodies of the diplomats and deliver the culprits to Iran. Iran reserves the right to take action for the blood of its children in Afghanistan, he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

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