5 - 20 September 1998, No. 25

q A number of festive official and public celebrations were held throughout Tajikistan on 9 September, marking the country’s seven years of independence. The celebrations this year were particularly significant, being the first joint festivities since the return of the United Tajik Opposition leadership to Tajikistan. Speaking at a ceremonial meeting on the occasion of the Independence Day of the country, attended by members of the Government, Commission on National Reconciliation (CNR) and the diplomatic corps, President Rakhmonov pointed out that the main achievements of the transitional period were the establishment of peace and national reconciliation, repatriation of refugees and the

implementation of political and economic reforms in the country. Further, he stated that Tajikistan pays a great deal of attention to developing all-round relations, mainly with Russia, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries, whose support is important both to tackle complex social and economic problems and to ensure the security of the country and the region. Addressing the current situation in Afghanistan, the President stressed that Tajikistan would strictly observe the principle of non-interference, but at the same time, under the collective security agreement signed among the CIS member-states , Tajikistan would along with them strengthen its southern borders and would not allow the rising tide of discontent and fighting which had covered the whole territory of Afghanistan, to cross into the territory of Tajikistan, since the security of Tajikistan was closely linked with the security of Afghanistan. Rakhmonov also underlined that the secular nature of the state and the heterogeneity of ideas was the greatest wealth of the people of Tajikistan. In a congratulatory message to the people of Tajikistan on the occasion, CNR Chairman Nuri pointed out that for Tajikistan the seven years since the country gained independence had been a period of confirmation and self-examination, in the course of which the main issue was resolved: whether the country would exist as a unique political entity. Further in his statement Nuri underlined that independence was the honor which God had bestowed on the Tajik nation after many centuries of deprivation of the right of self determination and statehood, therefore each Tajik should make all efforts to attain real political, economic and cultural independence.

q CNR MARKS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ACTIVITIES: 15 September 1998 marked the one year anniversary of the convening of the Commission on National Reconciliation in Dushanbe. CNR is the main mechanism for the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, which was signed between the Government of Tajikistan and UTO on 27 June 1997 after three years of negotiations with the mediation of the United Nations. The General Agreement provides a comprehensive foundation for national reconciliation in Tajikistan. Its full implementation by the Tajik parties is expected to create the necessary political, legislative and security conditions for the holding of new parliamentary elections. It represents a transition from a stage of armed conflict to a new stage of national reconciliation, nation-building leading to further political democratization, economic prosperity and stabilization in Tajikistan. CNR consists of an equal number of representatives from the Government and UTO (13 members from each side). It has four sub-commissions dealing with four clusters of issues under the General Agreement - political, military, legal and refugees. Mr. Said Abdullo Nuri is CNR Chairman. Mr. Abdulmadjid Dostiyev is CNR Deputy Chairman. To mark the one year anniversary of its activities, CNR invited UNMOT, members of the Contact Group of Guarantor States and Organizations, as well as the diplomatic corps in Dushanbe to a special plenary CNR meeting. CNR Chairman Nuri, addressing the meeting, praised CNR for its contribution to the peace process, while adding that much remained to be done: "CNR has made certain contribution to the peace process in Tajikistan, but several important things have not yet been achieved for a number of objective and subjective reasons". Key Government members in the CNR viewed Mr. Nuri’s speech as partisan and non-objective.

q REPATRIATION OF UTO FIGHTERS FROM NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN: The repatriation of remaining group of UTO fighters from northern Afghanistan to Tajikabad assembly area, following several delays, is now scheduled to begin on 21 September. According to CNR military sub-commission, there are approximately 160 UTO fighters to be repatriated together with their weapons. The first group, consisting of 153 fighters, was repatriated on 1 July 1998 and assembled in Garm. Following the crossing of the border, the fighters and weapons are planned to be registered in Nizhni Pianj and then transported by road to Tajikabad. The complex operation requires the close cooperation of Tajik Government, CNR, CIS Peacekeeping Forces and UNMOT.

q MILITARY CENTRAL ATTESTATION COMMISSION TO START ITS WORK SOON: The Central Attestation Commission, representing both Government and UTO members, is expected to start its work soon after the repatriation of the last group of UTO fighters from Afghanistan. It could begin its work in Gorno-Badakhshan. Under the terms of the Protocol on Military Issues, which itself is an integral part of the General Peace Agreement, the Central Attestation Commission during the third stage of the military protocol is mandated to review the suitability of both UTO reintegrated units, as well as Government armed forces, for further military service. The individual cases will be reviewed based on three criteria: health, professional competence and whether the person had criminal conviction prior to May 1992.

q CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: CNR has made some progress on the debate regarding Draft Concept Paper regarding constitutional amendments as foreseen by the General Peace Agreement, while considerable differences persist between Government and UTO members in the CNR on the issue of secularism. CNR during plenary meeting on 11 September, is reported to have approved the Preamble to the Draft Concept Paper. Also, consensus was reached to leave Article 7 of the current Constitution, regarding the administrative structure of the state (i.e. oblasts) untouched. CNR continues its discussion of the Draft Concept Paper.

q TAJIKISTAN TO PARTICIPATE IN A UN MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN NEXT WEEK: The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has called a meeting of the group of "six-plus-two" to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, to be held at the United Nations in New York on 21 September. The group includes Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and China, plus the Russian Federation and the United States. The Foreign Ministers of these countries are expected to take part in the meeting.

q UN MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: A number of public and official events were held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, marking International Day of Peace on 9 September.

q UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS 53RD SESSION: The General Assembly (GA) of the United Nations opened its 53rd session on 9 September at the United Nations headquarters in New York. GA, established in 1945 under the United Nations Charter, is one of the principal bodies of the UN and the most representative, comprising of all Members of the UN (185 countries). Tajikistan became a member of the United Nations in 1992. GA meets in regular session each year from September to December, and thereafter as required. In addition to its regular sessions, GA may meet in special and emergency sessions. To date, GA has convened 20 spacial sessions on issues such as

Palestine, UN finances, Namibia, disarmament, international economic cooperation, apartheid, drugs and the environment. It has also held 10 emergency sessions over the years on the situations in the Middle East, Hungary, Suez, the Congo, Afghanistan, Palestine, Namibia, among others. The functions and powers of GA are: to consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament; to discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is already being discussed by the Security Council, to make recommendations on it; to discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any question within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the UN; to initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, the development and codification of international law, the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and international collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, education and health fields; to make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation which might impair friendly relations among nations; to receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other UN organs; to consider and approve the UN budget and establish the financial assessments (payments) of Member States; to elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other UN Councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, to appoint the Secretary-General. While GA is empowered to make only non-binding recommendations to States on international issues within its competence, it has, nonetheless, initiated actions - political, economic, humanitarian, social and legal - which have affected the lives of millions of people in the world. After the election of its President and Vice-Presidents, and after the adoption of its agenda, GA commences its session with a two-week general debate, providing Member States with the opportunity to air their views on major international issues. With the close of the general debate, the Assembly begins consideration of the substantive items on its agenda. Because of the great number of questions which it is called upon to consider, GA distributes most substantive questions among its six main committees, which following discussions seeking consensus, present draft resolutions for consideration to a plenary GA meeting. The six main committees are: Disarmament and International Security (First Committee); Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee); Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee); Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (Third Committee); Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) deals with the administration and budget of the UN and; Legal Committee (Six Committee) deals with international legal matters. The work of the United Nations derives largely from the decisions of the General Assembly and is carried out: by committees and other bodies established by GA to study and report on specific issues, such as disarmament, outer space, peacekeeping, economic development, the environment and human rights and; by the Secretariat of the United Nations - the Secretary-General and his staff of international civil servants.

q This year the General Assembly will be attended by 25 heads of state, including from CIS countries, and 17 Prime Ministers. General debate is scheduled to begin on 21 September lasting until 2 October. The main part of the session is scheduled to end on 11 December. There are 166 items on the agenda of this year’s session, varying from reports of various committees to such special issues as terrorism, nuclear and conventional disarmament, globalisation, human rights, among others. The President of the 53rd General Assembly is Dr. Didier Opertti Badán, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay.