May 18, 1997To achieve peace and national accord in the country and in accordance with the August 17, 1995 protocol on basic principles of peaceful settlement and national accord in Tajikistan, and the December 23, 1996 agreement and protocol on the main functions and authorities of the commission on national reconciliation signed by President of the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rakmonov and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition S. A. Nuri, the delegations of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition (hereinafter referred to as the Parties), in effecting the instructions of the President and the Leader of the United Opposition, have developed and adopted the Statute on the Commission on National Reconciliation as an integral part of this protocol. Its other integral parts are the agreement and the protocol of December 23, 1996, signed in Moscow. The parties have also agreed on the following principal political issues:
1. The President and the Commission on National Reconciliation shall adopt an act on reciprocal forgiveness as the first political resolution during the first days of the commission's operation. A law on amnesty shall be adopted no later than one month after the act on reciprocal forgiveness has been adopted.
2. The Central Election Commission for Elections and the referendum will be formed, during a transition period, with members of the Unified Tajik Opposition occupying 25 percent of seats, and shall conduct elections and the referendum until a new professional parliament starts functioning and a new central election commission is composed.
3. The reform of the Government is being pursued by co-option of the members of the United Tajik Opposition into the structures of the executive brance, including the ministries, agencies, local government, judiciary and law enforcement bodies in accordance with a quota. The appointments of nominated candidates shall be carried out in accordance with proposals of the United Tajik Opposition after consultations between the President and Chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission.
4. All prohibitions and restrictions on the activity of political parties and movements of the United Tajik Opposition, and mass media shall be lifted by the Tajikistan authorities after the completion of phase two of implementation of the protocol on military issues. Political parties and movements which are part of the United Tajik Opposition will operate in accordance with the Constitution and current laws of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as in accordance with the norms and guarantees incorporated in the General Agreement on Peaceful Settlement and National Accord in the country.
Signed,
E. Rakhmonov,
President of the Republic of TajikistanA. Nuri
Leader of the United Tajik OppositionG. Merrem
Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General