21 September - 4 October 1998, No. 26

q On 22 September, at about 8 a.m., Mr. Otakhon Latifi, Chairman of CNR Legal Sub-Commission, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman outside his apartment in the center of Dushanbe. Government authorities initiated immediate investigation of the murder. Prior to Tajikistan's independence, Mr. Latifi had worked as correspondent and editor of "Pravda" newspaper in Dushanbe. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in the national reconciliation/coalition government in 1992. Having left the country during the civil war, he was the Chairman of the Coordinating Centre of Tajiks in CIS countries based in Moscow for several years, having spent the last year in Tehran before returning to Dushanbe with other UTO leaders in September 1997. Mr. Latifi was a senior member of the United Tajik Opposition delegation during three years of inter-Tajik peace negotiations under the United Nations mediation. His immense contribution to the attainment of peace and national reconciliation in Tajikistan was recognized by both parties, the people of Tajikistan and the United Nations.

q REACTIONS TO THE KILLING OF MR. LATIFI: Both the Government and UTO issued statements accusing forces bent on disrupting the peace process in the country by the killing of Mr. Latifi, calling it a politically motivated murder. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the continuation of the peace process, calling it irreversible. The United Nations Secretary-General in a statement read by his Spokesman condemned the murder, as he does all acts of political violence and terrorism. He also expressed trust that the Tajik parties to the peace agreement would not allow this act to deter them from pursuing their efforts towards peace and reconciliation in Tajikistan. A number of countries and organizations, including UNMOT and Contact Group members, issued similar statements.

q On 23 September, the Government issued a statement accusing UTO of violating the General Agreement and involvement of its fighters in various criminal activities. UTO leadership firmly refuted the Government's allegations also emphasising the unfortunate timing of such statements, immediately after Mr. Latifi's murder.

q On 25 September, UTO announced suspension of its activities both in the CNR and Government, until the killers of Mr. Latifi were apprehended and security situation for its members improved.

q The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Tajikistan, Jan Kubiš, immediately upon his return to Tajikistan on 23 September, began meetings with Tajik Government and UTO leadership, as well as Contact Group members in a coordinated effort to prevent further escalation of the difficulties facing the peace process. He appealed to both Tajik parties to avoid confrontation.

_ To undertake additional measures to ensure the security of UTO representatives in the CNR and Government;

_ To establish a joint commission of UTO and Government representatives to monitor the investigation of the murder of Mr. Otakhon Latifi;

_ To speed up the reform of Government through the incorporation of UTO representatives;

_ To establish a joint mobile task unit to combat crime and ensure military discipline in military units;

_ To complete the implementation of the first and second stages of the military protocol soonest;

_ To ensure the implementation of the Act on Mutual Forgiveness and refrain from mutual accusations through mass media;

_ To intensify publicity regarding the peace process through TV and radio programmes and in the press;

_ To hold regular meetings between the President and CNR Chairman and its members;

_ To improve logistic support for CNR activities;

_ To organize country-wide workshops on the achievements of the peace process and implementation of the General Agreement with the participation of the leaders of all political parties, movements and public associations, sociologists and well-known persons.

q CONTACT GROUP WELCOMES AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT RAKHMONOV AND CNR CHAIRMAN NURI: The Contact Group of Guarantor States and Organizations (CG), in a press release issued on 29 September, commended President Rakhmonov and CNR Chairman Nuri for "their statesmanship and commitment and faithfulness to the peace process", adding that this commitment was "clearly manifested in holding productive, frank meetings on 26 and 28 September in order to resolve in a spirit of good-will and compromise the problems which had arisen in the implementation of the General Agreement". CG welcomed the envisaged additional measures to ensure the security of UTO representatives in the CNR and Government. CG, in particular, expressed appreciation for the decision of the two Tajik leaders to meet regularly. It encouraged the President and CNR Chairman to "establish contact and hold consultations whenever necessary in order to discuss any urgent matter, discrepancy and difficulty thus preventing their further escalation". CG welcomed the resumption of the work of CNR.

q LAST GROUP OF UTO FIGHTERS REPATRIATED FROM NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN: The repatriation operation of the remaining 157 UTO fighters from northern Afghanistan was has successfully been completed. UNMOT on 23 September delivered food for 30 days and bedding items for the fighters at Nizni Pianj crossing point The convoy, which was monitored by UNMOT up to Dushanbe, arrived at the assembly area in Tajikabad on 26 September, having earlier undergone registration of personnel and weapons in Nizhni Pianj. In addition to personal belongings, a substantial quantity of weapons was also transported. The CIS Peacekeeping Forces, which were responsible for security and protection during the entire operation, returned to Dushanbe on 27 September.

q PRESIDENT RAKHMONOV REQUESTS VERIFICATION OF ASSEMBLY AREAS: On 30 September, President Rakhmonov decreed the Ministries of Defence, Interior and Security, as well as the State Committees on Border Defence, Emergency Situations and Civil Defence, together with CNR, UTO Chief of Staff and UNMOT to verify the designated assembly areas for UTO armed formations. The verification is intended to ensure that all the provisions of the first and second stages of the Military Protocol for the registration of UTO armed personnel, weapons, their assembly, medical examination, oath-taking, provision of military uniforms have been implemented as stipulated by the Protocol. The President set 5 October as deadline for the receipt of a written report of this verification process. A team representing above-mentioned organizations, with the exception of UNMOT, flew to Tavildara on 3 October to begin the verification process. SRSG Jan Kubiš in a meeting with Presidential Advisor on Law and Order, Mr. M. Kabirov, reiterated UNMOT's position on the suspension of all activities in the field following the murders of four UNMOT staff on 20 July. However, Mr. Kubiš confirmed UNMOT's readiness to continue the provision of food and bedding supplies to the assembly areas.

q UNMOT PROVIDES FOOD AND BEDDING SUPPLIES TO ASSEMBLY AREAS: As part of its support to the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, and the implementation of the Protocol on Military Issues in particular, UNMOT has once again begun provision of food and bedding supplies to designated assembly areas. Under the terms of the Protocol on Military Issues, there are ten designated assembly areas - Vanj, Gharm, Jirgital, Komsomolabad, Kofarnikhon, Rushan, Ravildara, Tajikabad, city of Khorog and village of Magmurud, where United Tajik Opposition armed units have assembled prior to their reintegration into the power structures of the Republic of Tajikistan. In view of UNMOT's suspension of activities in the field, it has been agreed to provide the food supplies to the CNR military sub-commission in Dushanbe, which is then responsible for their delivery to the assembly areas. 34 trucks carrying UNMOT-provided supplies left Dushanbe on 3 October for assembly areas in the Karategin valley.

q GOVERNMENT AND UTO CALL ON ARMED UNAFFILIATED GROUPS TO DISARM: The Government and UTO on 1 October issued an appeal to unaffiliated armed groups stating that the peace process in the country is irreversible and the people of Tajikistan fully support efforts of the Government and the UTO towards peace and reconciliation, which lead to restoration and development of the economy and well-being of the people. It pointed out that there were some forces, which rejected the idea of peace and were engaged in banditry, hostage taking and other criminal activities. In order to avoid bloodshed the Government and UTO called on those groups to surrender their weapons and return to civilian life. The Government and UTO warned that if their demands were not met they would take all necessary measures to liquidate these groups.

q PRINCE AGA KHAN VISITS TAJIKISTAN: The spiritual leader of world Ismailis, Prince Aga Khan, visited Tajikistan. During his week-long stay the Aga Khan meet with President Rakhmonov, CNR Chairman Nuri, among other high-ranking government officials, as well as SRSG Jan Kubiš. Together with the President, the Prince also visited Khorog, where he was warmly welcomed by the population. The Prince pledged his foundation's continuous support in the economic and social revival of Tajikistan, as well as the peace process.

q WORLD BANK VICE PRESIDENT VISITS TAJIKISTAN: A high-level delegation led by the Vice-President of the World Bank, Mr. Johannes Linn, visited Tajikistan. Meetings were held with President Rakhmonov and other government officials. During discussions, the sides exchanged views on the economic situation in Tajikistan. Government officials reiterated the Government's commitment to World Bank and IMF programmes of economic reform in the country.

q TAJIK REFUGEES CONTINUE TO RETURN HOME: According to the Government Department of Refugees, 89 Tajik refugees returned to the country from Kyrgyzstan by plane on 30 September. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also informed that 169 Tajik refugees returned to Tajikistan from Turkmenistan and 13 from Afghanistan on 2 October.

q US EMBASSY CURTAILS ITS ACTIVITIES IN TAJIKISTAN: On 25 September, US Embassy announced that the State Department had decided to curtail the activities of its Embassy in Tajikistan and relocate staff to Almaty. The Embassy has emphasised that the decision was not directly related to the security situation in Tajikistan, but to the very location of the embassy, which was perceived to be lacking in required security standards for US embassies worldwide.

q TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER NAZAROV ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: "The example of Tajikistan clearly demonstrates the fruitfulness of close cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in peacekeeping activities and emphasises the need for the international community to implement a coordinated strategy in support of efforts of the government and the people of the country to resolve criises and overcome instability and find ways to achieve lasting peace, national reconciliation and prosperity", said Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov addressing the United Nations 53rd General Assembly in New York on 30 September. He expressed his country's "profound gratitude to all the members of the General Assembly, Security Council and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan for their growing and multifaceted support of the peace process in Tajikistan. Mr. Nazarov also paid tribute to the staff of UNMOT, saying that "these brave and noble people pursue a lofty goal and make a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at achieving national accord, establish peace and tranquility in our country". He also drew General Assembly's attention to the unresolved conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan which was adversely affecting stability and security in the entire Central Asian region.