High ranking representatives of six countries neighboring Afghanistan, as well as the United States and the Russian Federation, agreed Monday on the need to establish a broad-based and freely chosen Afghan Government.

Collectively known as the"Six plus Two" group, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the U.S. and Russia "pledged their continued support to efforts of the Afghan people to find a political solution to the Afghan crisis," a joint declaration issued after the meeting at the U.N. headquarters said.

"They agreed that there should be the establishment in Afghanistan of a broad based multiethnic, politically balanced, freely chosen Afghan administration representative of their aspirations and at peace with its neighbors," it said.

It condemned the export of international terrorism by the al-Qaeda network and the ruling Taliban authorities for allowing the continued use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities.

It expressed support for efforts by the Afghan people to rid themselves of the Taliban regime, as well as international efforts to root out terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Welcoming the "central" role of the U.N. in assisting the Afghan people in developing a political alternative to the Taliban regime, the declaration endorsed the work by the secretary-general's Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, particularly efforts to help Afghan groups urgently establish a broad-based Afghan administration.

Concerning the relief operations, the members of the "Six plus Two" pledged continued support for the U.N.'s humanitarian efforts both inside Afghanistan and in refugee camps located in neighboring countries.

They urged additional contributions from donor countries and welcomed efforts by the international community to begin planning for Afghanistan's long-term reconstruction once a broadly-based government has assumed office and peace has been restored.

During the meeting, Brahimi briefed the participants on his recent mission to the region. The council is due to hold an open meeting on Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Due to temporary closure of the U.N. headquarters following a plane crash in New York, the foreign minister of Pakistan was not able to attend the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2001)