Text of report by the Tajik news agency Asia-Plus on 3rd
November

The European Union has expressed concern about preparations for
the presidential elections set for 6th November, in which only
one candidate - the incumbent president [Emomali Rahmonov] - is
expected to stand. In the statement, received by Asia-Plus news
agency on 3rd November from the Embassy of Germany to the
Republic of Tajikistan and signed by 26 European states, the
European Union calls for the Tajik government and opposition to
reach a decision on the issue of candidates which is acceptable
to both sides. The document notes that "the holding of
presidential elections which can be trusted is a test of
Tajikistan's willingness to implement the peace agreement and
move towards a pluralistic democracy". Meanwhile, the chairman
of the Central Election Commission, Mirzoali Boltuyev, who
appeared on national television yesterday and today [2nd and
3rd November] called for voters to take an active part in the
forthcoming presidential elections. He said two candidates'
names were included on the ballot papers: the incumbent
president of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmonov, and
the minister of economy and foreign economic relations of
Tajikistan [a candidate from the Islamic Rebirth Party], Davlat
Usmon. At the same time, a meeting of the general staff of the
Islamic Rebirth Party of Tajikistan [IRPT] on the presidential
elections was held in Dushanbe by the chairmanship of the
leader of the IRPT, Said Abdullo Nuri, in Dushanbe yesterday,
2nd November. The Asia-Plus news agency learned from the press
secretary of the general staff of the IRPT, Muhammadali Haitov,
that the current crisis concerning the candidate from the
Islamic Rebirth Party of Tajikistan, Davlat Usmon, which
developed during the election campaign, was discussed at the
meeting.

We remind you that the Central Election and Referendum
Commission of Tajikistan [CERCT] registered Davlat Usmon as a
candidate [from the Islamic Rebirth Party] for the post of
president [of Tajikistan] on 22nd October 1999, on the basis of
a decision by the Supreme Court of Tajikistan. His name,
alongside that of Emomali Rahmonov, was included on the ballot
paper as an alternative contender [for the presidency].
However, both the candidate himself and the party which
nominated him for the post disagreed with the decision of the
CERCT, considering it "illegal" and explaining that "the
candidate did not gather the necessary number of signatures in
support of his registration". Muhammadali Haitov noted that the
position of the IRPT could not be changed. The leadership of
the party is continuing to insist that demands which it had
previously put forward should be met - the main one being that
an extraordinary session of the Supreme Assembly should be
called to change the date of elections.

Source: Asia-Plus news agency, Dushanbe, in Russian 0944 gmt 03
Nov 99
BBC Mon CAU 031199/** AJC/SK