A/RES/49/207 Page 4 situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in view of the circumstances prevailing in the country; 2. Also welcomes the cooperation that the authorities in Afghanistan have extended, in particular to the Coordinator for Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes Relating to Afghanistan and to international organizations, such as the specialized agencies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross; 3. Urges all the Afghan parties to undertake, where appropriate under the auspices of the United Nations, all possible efforts in order to achieve a comprehensive political solution, which is the only way to bring about peace and the full restoration of human rights in Afghanistan, based on the free exercise of the right to self-determination by the people, including free and genuine elections, the cessation of armed confrontation and the creation of conditions that will permit the free return, as soon as possible, of about three million refugees to their homeland in safety and dignity, whenever they wish, and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all Afghans; 4. Welcomes all the efforts towards reaching a comprehensive, peaceful political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, in particular the efforts of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan established in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 48/208 of 21 December 1993, with the mandate to canvass a broad spectrum of the leaders of Afghanistan, soliciting their views on how the United Nations can best assist Afghanistan in facilitating national rapprochement and reconstruction, and to submit its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Secretary-General for appropriate action; 5. Notes with appreciation the cooperation the Afghan people and leaders have provided to the Special Mission and urges all the Afghan parties to continue to work with it with a view to achieving a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Afghanistan; 6. Urges both the Special Mission and the Special Rapporteur to exchange relevant information and to consult and cooperate with each other; 7. Invites the United Nations to offer, upon the request of the Afghan Government and with due regard to the Afghan tradition, advisory services and technical assistance concerning the drafting of a constitution, which should embody internationally accepted human rights principles, and the holding of direct elections; 8. Recognizes that the promotion and protection of human rights should be an essential element in the achievement of a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Afghanistan, and calls upon all the Afghan parties to respect human rights; 9. Urges all the Afghan parties to respect accepted humanitarian rules, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977, to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population, to protect all civilians from acts of reprisal and violence, including ill-treatment, torture and summary executions, and to expedite the simultaneous release of prisoners wherever they may be held; 10. Urges the Afghan authorities to provide sufficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave human rights violations and to bring their perpetrators to trial in accordance with internationally accepted standards; /...