Text of report by Tajik radio on 3rd January

The nomination of candidates to the Assembly of Representatives [lower
chamber of the Tajik parliament] for the republican electoral district is
continuing in towns and Districts of the country. A Khovar news agency
correspondent reported that three political parties - the People's
Democratic Party, the Communist Party and the Islamic Rebirth Party - had
held party congresses and nominated 22 candidates each to the legislative
body of the republic.

The Democratic Party of Tajikistan and the Socialist Party of Tajikistan
will hold their congresses tomorrow.

Representatives from these political forces of the country will also
nominate candidates to the posts of deputies to the Assembly of
Representatives.

We would like to recall that nomination of candidates to the Assembly of
Representatives in a single nationwide electoral district begins when the
date of the elections has been fixed and ends 45 days before the elections.
The elections to the Supreme Assembly will be held on 27th February. What is
the difference between these elections and the previous elections to the
Supreme Assembly? A Supreme Assembly official, Ibrohim Shukurov, highlights
this subject.

[Shukurov] The forthcoming elections, that is to say, the one set for 27th
February 2000, will completely differ from the previous elections. We used
to elect people's representatives to the whole Supreme Assembly. Now we
elect representatives to the Supreme Assembly separately and members to the
National Assembly will also be elected separately. We will hold direct and
indirect elections. What do the words direct and indirect mean here? If in
a single-mandate or a multi-mandate electoral district voters go and
directly elect a representative to the Assembly of Representatives, the
members of the National Assembly will be elected by the assemblies of
people's representatives in the Regions. This is the difference between
direct and indirect elections.

Source: Tajik Radio first programme, Dushanbe, in Tajik 1100 gmt 03 Jan 00
BBC Mon CAU 030100/** AJBA/AS