30 September - 12 October 1997, No. 2

On 1 and 2 October there were reports of bombings and fighting between Afghan groups in and around Mazar-i-Sharif, in the vicinity of the camp, in the course of which four Tajik refugees were reported to have been killed and several injured.

The United Nations Secretary-General, on 2 October, issued a statement expressing disturbance at the events. It noted that in addition to the casualties, the fighting had caused serious shortages of food, drinking water and medicine in the camp. The Secretary-General urged all Afghan parties to cease all military activities in and around the camp to allow the refugees to repatriate safely as soon as possible. He informed that he was in contact with all relevant authorities in order to prevent a humanitarian tragedy and ensure the safety of the Tajik refugees.

On 2 October President Rakhmonov, while in New York attending the UN General Assembly, had a telephone conversation with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Bernard Miyet. He expressed concern at the situation of Tajik refugees at Sakhi camp and requested the UN to facilitate their earliest repatriation to Tajikistan.

In view of the situation in Sakhi camp, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tajikistan, Gerd Merrem, has maintained permanent contact with Tajik government authorities, the Chairman of the Commission on National Reconciliation (CNR), Said Abdullo Nuri, Afghan and Uzbek authorities and UNHCR headquarters in Geneva in an effort to find practical solutions for the earliest and safe repatriation of Tajik refugees from Sakhi camp.

While keeping the option of repatriating Tajik refugees via Hairaton/Termez route open and under active consideration, UNHCR, through extensive efforts, reached an agreement with all involved authorities to repatriate the first group of Tajik refugees from Sakhi camp via Kunduz/Sherkhan-Bandar/Nizhni Pianj route.

On 4 October, the first group of Tajik refugees from Sakhi camp, consisting of 181 persons, returned to Tajikistan via Kunduz/Sherkhan-Bandar/Nizhni Pianj with UNHCR assistance. CNR Working Group on refugees travelled to northern Afghanistan to assist with the process of repatriation. According to the Group, around 1000 additional Tajik refugees from Sakhi camp had reached Tosh Kurgan (some 40km west of Kunduz) on foot. On 9 October, the second group of Tajik refugees, consisting of 76 persons, 51 of them from Sakhi camp, were repatriated through the same route.

UNHCR representatives on 6 October met the Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister to discuss the possibility of opening Hairaton/Termez route. A quadripartite meeting of UN, Tajik, Afghan and Uzbek representatives is being planned soon to discuss swiftest repatriation of Tajik refugees through this route.

The Contact Group of guarantor states and organizations (CG), addressed an appeal through its

There are increasing numbers of bomb explosions, armed attacks, kidnappings and robberies in and around Dushanbe, reportedly by uncontrolled armed groups. According to the Ministry of Interior, since the beginning of September there have been more than ten separate incidents of bomb explosions in Dushanbe, injuring over 20 people. Many other explosives have been successfully defused by authorities. Also, currently 20 people are being held hostage by uncontrolled armed groups.

CNR continued with its intensive work programme, devoting much attention to the refugee crisis at camp Sakhi. At plenary meetings on 3 and 10 October, CNR reviewed progress of its work plan during the past weeks and discussed work programme for the following weeks. In this context, a meeting was held between President Rakhmonov and CNR Chairman Nuri on 8 October where they discussed the implementation of the General Agreement and related issues. On 2 October, CNR announced the establishment of its Press Centre. Mr. Yusuf Hakimov has been appointed Director of the Centre. Mr. Hakimov during a meeting with Tajik state TV/radio programming representatives discussed wider mass media coverage on the work of the Commission.

On 4 October, the Chairman of CNR, Mr. Nuri, held his first press conference in that capacity. He expressed overall satisfaction with the progress of CNR’s work. However, he pointed out delays in such areas of the implementation of the General Agreement, as the Amnesty Law, repatriation of UTO fighters from Afghanistan and the allocation of 30% posts to the UTO in government structures.

With regard to the appointment of UTO representatives to government posts, the General Agreement (Protocol on Political Issues) states that the nominated candidates shall be appointed in accordance with a proposal by UTO, after consultations between the President and CNR Chairman. According to CNR’s work plan, this is to take place in the month of October.

Gen. Izydorczyk, Chief Military Observer of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), has maintained permanent contacts with government power structures, CNR military sub-commission Chairman, Habib Sanginov, and the command of the CIS Peacekeeping Forces in Tajikistan on issues related to the implementation of the Protocol on Military Issues.

UNMOT military observers continued working closely with CNR military sub-commission. During meetings on 2, 8 and 10 October, the parties discussed preparations for the transfer of UTO fighters from northern Afghanistan to Tajikistan and the establishment of assembly areas for UTO fighters.

According to the Protocol on Military Issues, during the first stage of the reintegration, disarmament and disbanding process of UTO armed units, the fighters are to be assembled in the following areas: districts of Vanj, Gharm, Jirgital, Komsomolabad, Kofarnikhon, Rushan, Tavildara, Tajikabad, city of Khorog and Magmurud village in the Leninski district. This stage is to be concluded within two months following the start of the CNR work in Dushanbe.

On 4 October, Mr. Sanginov and sub-commission other members visited Kofarnikhon and Magmurud (future

assembly areas) where they met local UTO field commanders.

UNMOT military observers and CNR military sub-commission have agreed to hold daily meetings in the future.

CNR issued an appeal to all citizens of the Republic, local government authorities and heads of public and private enterprises to lend a helpful hand in any way possible to assist returning Tajik refugees. The appeal pointed out areas of needed assistance - construction materials, food and shelter, among others. Emphasising the many hardships that the returning compatriots face especially in view of upcoming winter, the appeal noted that there are many elderly, women and children among the returnees who need "sincere reception and welcome", this being the "sacred duty" of each citizen.

On 8 October, a round table discussion on "Peace, National Accord and the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan" took place in Dushanbe under the auspices of CNR. Among those participating in the discussions were 12 members of CNR from legal, political sub-commissions, government officials, representatives of various university law faculties, UNMOT, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), legal and constitutional experts - a total of 30 participants.

According to the General Agreement, CNR, together with the President of the Republic, is to work out proposals for amendments and additions to the existing Constitution and submit them to national referendum. CNR legal sub-commission, based on its work plan, has set 30 November as deadline to finalise its proposals.

In addressing the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 30 September, President Rakhmonov noted that the results of peaceful political dialogue in Tajikistan during the past three years are visible today. "With active international support, the negotiation process had led to historic decisions for the Tajik people, which lay the ground work for a successful advancement towards peace and national reconciliation", added the President. He expressed "sincere gratitude" to the members of the General Assembly, Security Council, the Secretary-General, his Special Representative in Tajikistan for the "constant and close attention to the Tajik settlement and the problems of Tajikistan, in general". He pointed out the United Nations peacekeeping, humanitarian and development assistance as important aspects of the organization’s work in the country.

During his visit to the United Nations headquarters, President Rakhmonov met with Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Under-Secretaries-General for peacekeeping and political affairs, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Executive-Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among others.

On 8 October, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tajikistan, Gerd Merrem, was received by President Rakhmonov. During the hour-long meeting, they discussed preparations for the Donor Conference in support of the peace process, which is being organized by the United Nations, the work of CNR and the security situation in Dushanbe. President

During a meeting between SRSG Merrem and CNR Chairman Nuri on 29 September, the parties discussed the work of the CNR, the implementation of the General Agreement and related issues. Mr. Nuri expressed concern over the delay of the expansion of UNMOT and possible negative implications of this on the implementation of the General Agreement. Mr. Merrem pointed out the need for a more intensive public information activities by CNR about its work and the peace process, which could also be combined with joint government-CNR missions to different regions of the country. He also informed Mr. Nuri on the current preparations for the donor conference and on-going UN assistance to CNR.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Talbak Nazarov, has informed SRSG Merrem that President Rakhmonov would personally lead the Tajik government delegation, which would also include UTO personalities, at the international donor conference in support of the peace process in Tajikistan. The conference to be held at the beginning of November in Vienna, is being organized under the United Nations auspices. The Foreign Minister has also said that President Rakhmonov and CNR Chairman Nuri would sign the Preamble to the document which is to be presented to the donors, adding that the Government fully endorses the document drafted by the UN, in consultation with Tajik parties.

The United Nations continues preparations for the conference. SRSG Gerd Merrem, UNDP Resident Representative, Paolo Lembo and UNHCR Regional Director for Central Asia, John McCallin, are scheduled to undertake an awareness raising mission to several European capitals and North America in mid-October, including Moscow, Brussels, Stockholm and Washington. The pre-conference mission is of utmost importance to guarantee the success of the conference. It will help to provide key international donor countries with in-depth information on the current political, social and economic situation of Tajikistan and the peace process underway.

A United Nations television crew will visit Tajikistan from 13 to 23 October to prepare three stories for "UN in Action" series. The stories will concentrate on UN peacekeeping, humanitarian and development assistance activities in Tajikistan. "UN in Action" series are televised in many countries of the world. The crew plans to travel to different regions of the country. In addition to highlighting UN activities in the country, the series would also help raise international awareness of the situation in Tajikistan and its people.

On 7 October, the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly concluded general debate. A total of 176 members states addressed the session.

Speaking at the closing of general debate, the President of the Assembly, Hennadiy Udovenko, said the efforts of the Secretary-General to reform the UN had gained strong political support from the speakers, who had welcomed the comprehensive reform package and stated their endorsement, in principle. The concern of the member states remained to be focused on regions of instability. He added that the internationalization of such problems as terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption, illicit arms trading, environmental pollution was also at the centre of the debate. On 8 October, the session began discussions on the UN reform plan proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.