UNMOT NEWS LETTER

15-31 January 1999

SRSG HELD SERIES OF MEETINGS IN MOSCOW

During his mid-January 1999 visit to Moscow, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Tajikistan, Mr. Kubis held a series of meetings with Russian Federation government representatives. He met among others with the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Ivanov, Minister for the Commonwealth of Independant States (CIS) Affairs, Mr. Pastukhov, and the Chief of Staff of the CIS Peacekeeping Force, Gen . The Russian Federation side agreed with the UN position and also expressed its concern concern about the slow and unbalanced pace of the implementation of the Tajik Peace Agreement, especially concerning its Military Protocol, and reiterated that the Contact Group should assume a more active role to influence both parties to move the process forward. In this context, the Russian side supported again the idea of holding a review Ministerial Conference of the Contact Group states on the issue as well in order to raise further the awareness of the international community to the Tajik problem, including issues such as drug trafficking and terrorism. The Russian Federation also assured that they will more actively assist the Tajik Government in latter’s efforts in reforming the country’s power structures.

COMMISSION FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

HELD JOINT MEETING WITH CONTACT GROUP

On 27 January 1999 the Commission for the National Reconciliation held a joint meeting with the Contact Group in order to review the progress achieved in the Tajik peace process in 1998 and to set up the priorities in this respect for the year 1999

UNMOT CONCERT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

UNMOT held its second concert of peace "The Sound of Peace , the Song of Unity" at the Opera and Ballet Theater of Dushanbe on 21 January to celebrate the Eid -ul- Fitr as well as the New Year 1999. The concert was above all in celebration of the consolidation of the peace process in Tajikistan. The Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary General, Mr. Jan Kubis, said in his opening remarks to almost eight hundred people who attended the concert that UNMOT was keen to promote peace not only through political dialogue but also through the rich culture of Tajikistan. He also said that since there was a lot to be done in the year ahead -- such as holding a referendum, reforming the constitution and holding elections -- it was good to start off the year with a happy concert that aims at bringing together all people of Tajikistan with a variety of political opinion and a colourful cultural and ethnic diversity. The concert was called "The Art of Badakshan"and it brought together veteran artists of Badakshan such as Gorminj Zoghebeigov, Mossaver Meynak, Khorsid Alidadov, Shirinmah as well as the popular singer of Tajikistan Daler Nazarov who was singing in his country after over six years of living in Kazakastan. UNMOT’s Spokesperson, Massoumeh Torfeh, said that there were plans for holding concerts in many beautiful regions of Tajikistan such as Gharm, Kulayb, Khojand and Badakshan, but for the time being due to winter weather, instead of going to Badakshan, Badakshan’s colourful culture was brought to Dushanbe. She said, however, that in future months there were plans for holding concerts and seminars in all areas of Tajikistan. There was tremendous support for the concert in the Opera and Ballet and for the idea of other concerts of this kind through out the country, several high ranking members of the CNR thanked UNMOT for such initiatives. Many expressed the opinion that this is a very human way of strengthening the peace process. UNMOT has been inundated with phone calls and letters of appreciation for the holding of the concert. The manager of the theater said that in all his years of work he had never seen such a full house or such a warm reception. The newly established Dushanbe Radio broadcast the entire concert live and TRT recorded the performance for future showing on the TV. UNMOT is most grateful for all the support it received, and is thankful to he Director of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Mr. Narimon Karimov, for ensuring the provision of all professional facilities. And as Ms. Torfeh said, there are more concerts to come! We all look forward.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ON THE EVE OF Eid-ul-Fitr

In his address to the nation on the happy occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, broadcast by Tajik Radio and other media on 17 Jan 1999, President Rakhmonov congratulatedTajik people and other Muslims residing in Tajikistan. In his message, also president warned that if religion is not used for its sole goals but manipulated politically, then acts of terrorism, sabotage and misery could prevail in the country. He added, "...... to use religion as means for promoting discord is sin; the Islamic religion does not carry any preference for this or that party or any specific group". Emphasizing that the freedom of conscience was guaranteed by the Tajik Constitution and explained that when the religion is utilized for uplifting morality, culture and humanistic goals, countries enjoy peace and tranquility, flourishing development and well-being and prosperity of their citizens.

CONFERENCE ON THE THEME OF

"TAJIKISTAN WITHOUT DRUGS"

An international conference on the issue "TAJIKISTAN WITHOUT DRUGS" took place in Dushanbe on 15 January. While addressing the conference, President Rakhmonov asserted that the stablity in the state depends directly on a decisive and irreconciliable fight against drug trafficking. At the same time the President pointed out that about one ton of narcotics is being smuggled every day from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and currently about 2000 tons of narcotics are stockpiled in Afghan border regions to be smuggled across the Tajik-Afghan border. He underlined that unless the conflict in Afghanistan is resolved, the problem of drug and weapon trafficking through Tajikistan cannot be solved. Having appealed to Afghanistan to stop the organized smuggling of drugs across the Tajik- Afghan border, President Rakhmonov put up a plea to the international community for assistance for training the Tajik law-enforcement authorities as well as for financial assistance in combating drug trafficking.

The Head of the Civil Affairs Section UNMOT, Mr. Saksena, together with foreign diplomats, representatives of international organizations, members of the presidential staff, heads of Tajik law-enforcement agencies and others, attended this international conference.

STATE VISIT TO VIETNAM

Accompanied by a group of dignitaries and of Tajik entrepreneurs, President Rakhmonov paid an official state visit to Vietnam at the beginning of the second half of January this year. A number of bilateral agreements in the economic field were signed during the visit, including an agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments as well as an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation between both countries. During the visit, the Tajik side emphasized the irreversible character of the peace process and stressed that the peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis, which would take into account the interests of all the parties concerned, remains one of the top priorities of the Tajikistan’s Foreign policy. On his way back, president Rakhmonov paid a short working visit in Delhi where he was received by the Prime Minister of India. Talks were held on a myriad of bilateral and regional issues.

US EMBASSY IN TAJIKISTAN BACK TO FULL SCALE OPERATIONS

The US Embassy in Tajikistan has resumed full scale operations after closing down temporarily in September 1998 for Security reasons. On 15 January in Dushanbe, US ambassador Mr. Robert Finn informed news conference that the mission decided to return to its normal routine after receiving housing that met international security standards.

IRANIAN MILITARY DELEGATION VISITED TAJIKISTAN

At the beginning of the second half of the month, Iranian Military Delegation visited Dushanbe to acquaint itself with the current state of the Tajik armed forces and for identification of perspectives for further military co-operation between both countries. It was the first Iranian visit of a kind since Tajkistan’s independence in 1991.

BORDER GUARDS DETAINED 250 TRESPASSERS ON TAJIK BORDER IN 1998

According to a press release by the Russian border troops in Dushanbe, Russian border guards in Tajikistan last year detained 250 trespassers, including 203 from Afghanistan. Also, one hundred and thirty five attempts to violate the border were prevented, including 105 from Afghanistan and about one tonne of drugs was confiscated, including 172 kg of herons (compared with 19.8 kg in 1997). Further, the number of armed clashes increased last year to 40 from 20 in 1997 and 35 trespassers were killed and seven wounded in those clashes. The press release says, "Growing contraband of drugs through the Afghan-Tajik border and their subsequent circulation in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Western Europe remains a serious threat to the interest of Russia and Tajikistan".

MILITARY ISSUES

*UNMOT has been informed by JCRC that the attesttion of the servicemen of the power structures is being carried out in Gissar and Shahrinav areas, whereas the process of attestation in Karategin Valley is not likely to commence before the end of this month.

*World Food Programme in conjunction with Benevolent International Foundation and other organizations has accomplished supply of food stuffs in the Assembly Areas of Kofarnikhon and Leninisky districts. Similarly, Agha Khan Foundation which is responsible for supplying WFP food to Karategin Valley has nearly accomplished the task.

*The head of Russia’s Federal Border Service in Tajikistan, General Nikolai Reznichenko said Russia will cut the number of border guards it deploys in Tajikistan by one -third this year because of financial difficulties in both countries. He also added that the guards, who numbered some eleven-thousand last year, would continue to protect Russia’s interests in Tajikistan.

BRIEF NEWS

*Navruz Valiyev, the deputy head of the Tajik National Bank, who was responsible for foreign currency operations, has been released unharmed more than a month after being kidnapped in Dushanbe. He was freed after an operation by the Tajik Security services.

*On January 15, as part of international cooperation in combating drug-trafficking, the German Embassy in Dushanbe handed over to Tajik authorities technical equipment worth of 70 thousand USD . The equipment called endoscope makest possible detection of drugs hidden both in vehicles and clothings.

*UN Programme on Drugs Control intends to allocate 8 mln USD for the reinforcement of the so called anti-drug safety Zone around Afghanistan.

* US ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr Robert Finn said during a news conference in Dushanbe on 15 January that the USA intends to allocate 47m dollars to the Republic of Tajikistan this year and out of which 30 mln dollars would be spent on food.

*A delegation of the Iranian Ministry of Energy visited Tajikistan to discuss cooperation in construction of a hydro-electric plant in Sangtuda, Khatlon province, which will be a part of a wider hydro-system allowing Tajikistan to effectively control the amount of water in Amudaria river. Iran reportedly promised 12,5 mln USD for this project together with assistance for smaller hydro-electric projects in Gorno-Badakshan and Leninabad.

*According to the Tajik Ministry of Agriculture, the country produced only 385,000 tons of cotton in 1998, well short of the 600,000 tons contracted by the state. Last year’s crop, however, represented a small increase on the 1997, when 359,000 tons were produced.

UN NEWS

*At the begining of the second half of this month, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended to the UN Security Council that the United Nations gradually withdraw all military and civilian peacekeepers - totalling about 1000 - by March 20 this year. In his report, the Secretary General also has recommrnded that about 200 soldiers of the UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) remain in the country in order to protect the UN property until all peacekeepers are withdrawn. Following the shooting down of two UN chartered aircraft within one week, the first in late December and the other in early January, Mr. Annan said, "The events of the last few months have clearly demonstrated that the Angolan peace process has collasped and the country is now in a state of war."

*Referring to a slaughter of 45 civilians including women and one child in the town of Racak, Kosovo on 15 January 1999, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the massacre and deplored Belgrade’s refusal to allow chief Posecutor Mr. Luise Arbour to investigate the atrocity. Meanwhile NATO’s two top military commanders, US General Wesley Clark and Germany’s Klaus Naumann, who held talks with Yugoslav President in Belgrade, conveyed a clear and firm message that the fighting in Kosovo must stop or airstrikes would begin. However, Russian Foreign Minister indicated that Moscow will oppose any military action by NATO in Kosovo.