13 - 27 October 1997, No. 3

The largest exchange of POWs and detainees to date took place between 19 and 20 October, under the implementation of the Act on Mutual Forgiveness and the Amnesty Law. On 19 October, 84 prisoners of war (POWs) were released by UTO in Tavildara and transported in a convoy to Dushanbe. The convoy was escorted by CIS PKF and monitored by UNMOT. Upon arrival at the Ministry of Defense in Dushanbe, the released POWs were greeted by government officials, CNR Chairman, Said Abdullo Nuri, and Deputy Chairman, Abdulmadjid Dostiyev. According to UTO sources, the remaining POWs in Tavildara will be released in the near future.

On 20 October, a total of 78 prisoners were released under the Amnesty Law from the correctional, labour colony no. 7 in Dushanbe - 58 UTO supporters and 20 others. During a brief ceremony, the prisoners were addressed by Mr. Nuri and Mr. Dostiyev. Upon their release, the former prisoners were warmly met by family members outside the colony building. There were also families waiting whose loved ones were not released that day. Subsequently, the office of the Prosecutor-General announced that the remaining detainees, out of the list of 161 already approved cases, would be released soon in stages.

The United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) informed that in view of improved security conditions around Sakhi Tajik refugee camp, along Afghan-Uzbek border and as a result of a quadripartite agreement (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghan Northern Alliance and UNHCR) reached at a meeting in Termez on 21 October, the repatriation of the last group of Tajik refugees from the "war affected camp"started on 24 October.

It is believed that Sakhi camp still holds between 5,000 and 7,000 Tajik refugees. At the peak of the fighting around the camp in early October, 250 refugees made their way to Kunduz, some 150 km east of Mazar-i-Sharif, covering a substantial portion of the journey on foot. They were repatriated from Kunduz by UNHCR and are now safely back in Tajikistan.

On 25 October, 304 Tajik refugees successfully crossed the Amu Darya river by barge from Hairaton to Termez. Following security and medical checks, they proceeded to Shaartuz, Tajikistan by train the same day. Should the current circumstances remain unchanged, UNHCR expects to repatriate 1,500 refugees a week in three groups by the same route, completing the process within five weeks. Earlier, on 16 October, UNHCR brought back 48 Tajik refugees via Kunduz/Nizhni Pianj (21 of them originally from Sakhi camp), completing the repatriation of refugees from the Kunduz region.

According to UNHCR, some 50,000 to 60,000 Tajiks fled to northern Afghanistan during the civil war in 1992-3 and some 600,000 were displaced inside the country. As stated in an UNHCR Media Advisory, the

In preparation of the international donor conference on Tajikistan, which is tentatively scheduled for the last week of November in Vienna, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Tajikistan, Gerd Merrem, together with Mr. Paolo Lembo, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tajikistan, and Mr. John McCallin, Regional Director of UNHCR, undertook a ten-day mission to Moscow, Bonn, Scandinavian countries and Washington to raise awareness on the situation in Tajikistan and progress on the peace process among key international donor countries.

At the conclusion of the mission, SRSG Merrem on 22 October briefed the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Tajikistan. During the briefing Mr. Merrem emphasised the necessity for international support for the peace process, which entails enormous resources. He noted the positive developments in Tajikistan since the signing of the General Agreement, including observance by the parties of the cease-fire since December 1996, convening of the CNR in Dushanbe and its subsequent work progress, the return of a large number of refugees from northern Afghanistan and the release of POWs and detainees. However, he also drew attention to a number of challenges ahead in the implementation of the General Agreement, emphasising foremost the critical security situation in some parts of the country.

Later that day, Mr. Merrem, accompanied by Mr. Paolo Lembo and Mr. John McCallin held a press conference for the international press corps accredited to the Untied Nations. Mr. Merrem told correspondents that the United Nations agencies in Tajikistan were attempting to rally international support for the donor conference. Noting the positive developments in the country in recent months, Mr. Merrem said that the international community had recognized improvements in Tajikistan and international interest was being expressed in the rehabilitation and development of the country. He added that peace must now be consolidated and outlined the tasks ahead.

President Rakhmonov and CNR Chairman Nuri in separate letters addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General requested further United Nations assistance in the implementation of the peace process in accordance with the General Agreement signed in Moscow on 27 June 1997. Both President Rakhmonov and CNR Chairman Nuri assured the Secretary-General that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure the security, protection and freedom of movement of UN personnel in Tajikistan. The Secretary-General was informed that the Government and UTO are ready to establish a joint unit to provide security protection to the personnel of UNMOT and other UN agencies, as well as their premises and installations.

The Attorney General of Dushanbe announced the establishment of a special task force to fight terrorism in the city. According to official statistics, 1,963 criminal acts were committed in Dushanbe during nine months this year. However, only 32 % of those cases have been successfully solved. The authorities have identified suspects implicated in some terrorist acts. Efforts are being made to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.

Also, the Governor of Leninabad Province issued a decree banning the import of arms and ammunition into the province. The Decree cites relevant provisions on registration, storage and issuance of weapons, including a provision prohibiting the carrying of arms in public places.

On 22 October, CNR Chairman Nuri addressed a letter to SRSG Merrem expressing concern over criminal and terrorist activities of certain armed groups in the

On 22 October, the Chairman and members of the CNR had a meeting with the Mayor of Dushanbe and other government officials, as well as several commanding officers of government armed forces. Those present expressed support for the General Agreement and the activities of CNR. The meeting was an important step in building mutual trust and ensuring constructive cooperation between the military structures of both parties, especially in the implementation of the Protocol on Military Issues.

Also, on 13 October 1997, CNR Chairman Nuri met with UTO field commanders of the Kofarnkhon and Leninski districts. Outlining the current objectives of the UTO, Mr. Nuri emphasized that all supporters of the opposition should struggle for the unity of the nation and overcome the political and economic crisis in the country. He also pointed out that the reintegration of UTO forces into government military structures would begin soon. Mr. Nuri plans to hold a similar meeting with UTO field commanders in Tavildara soon.

President Rakhmonov, accompanied by Prime Minister Azimov, Foreign Minister Nazarov, Minister of Defence Khairulloyev, together with other Tajik government high officials left Dushanbe on 22 October to attend CIS summit in Chisinau, Moldova. On the agenda of the summit were issues related to economic, social, political and military cooperation between CIS countries.

24 October marked the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement on the occasion, extending warm greetings to all the friends of the organization. Mr. Annan noted that the United Nations, at its best enables the achievement of the highest of human aspirations, among those, to end violence, promote tolerance, advance development, ensure equality, protect human rights and alleviate poverty. He appealed to all friends and allies of the United Nations to renew their faith in the one and only universal instrument of progress, which the organization represents. In return, he pledged to achieve a United Nations from which all can gain, and in which everyone can play a part in pursuit of a better future.

President Rakhmonov, on behalf of the Tajik nation and himself, addressed a letter of congratulations to the UN Secretary-General on the event. He also expressed appreciation and gratitude for the efforts of the United Nations to establish peace and national reconciliation in Tajikistan. The President pledged further deepening of relations and cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Nations.

Also, 17 October marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The event had been designated by the UN General Assembly to focus global attention on the issue of poverty and social deprivation.

Three women - two Russian journalists and one representative of an international organization in

Tajikistan were taken hostage during a hostage-taking incident in February 1997, in the vicinity of Obi-Garm, together with five UNMOT personnel, four UNHCR staff and several Russian and Tajik mass media representatives. They were all subsequently released.

ECOSOC is the United Nations principal policy making body which recommends and directs activities aimed at promoting economic and social growth of developing countries. It has 54 member states and usually holds two sessions each year.