Ü UN SECRETARY GENERAL PRESENTS INTERIM REPORTON TAJIK PEACE PROCESS TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL: In his interim report to the UN Security Council dated 8 Feb 1999, the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan expressed his concern about the slow pace of the Tajik peace process. The SG noted that the extended debate of constitutional issues was still ongoing and that no progress had been reached . The first two stages of the Military Protocol could not be considered completed because many UTO fighters did not stay in the Assembly Areas and only a limited number of weapons were registered and stored, whereas integration of the UTO fighters into the power structures has only started and proceeded in a slow pace. In the allocation of government posts to UTO in accordance with the 30% quota, the SG said some progress was made, however, no agreement had been reached on the appointment o Minister of Defense. Full implementation of the Amnesty Law adopted in August 1997 was also still pending, he said.

On security, the SG said the situation in Tajikistan continued to be precarious, with noticeable increase in crime , in particular crime related to drug trafficking and numerous violent incidents with possible political connotations. He referred to several incidents in the country including the fire fight in front of the CNR building on 30th Dec 1998, the killing of four farm workers in the Vanj districts of Gornobadakshan region on 5 Jan 1999 and the incident at a check point in the Faizabad district on 30th Jan 1999.

The SG noted that UNMOT continued to work closely with CNR to press forward on

matters related to the implementation of the Military Protocol and constitutional reform, and at the same time, maintained contact with political groups outside CNR. The SG brought out that UNMOT had continued to coordinate the work of the Contact Group of the guarantor states and international organizations in its efforts to facilitate the implementations of the General Agreement.

The SG observed that the risk inherent in the slow pace was the growing restlessness among the groups that were not direct parties to the peace agreement and to its power sharing arrangements, as well as among the UTO fighters, who were awaiting the reintegration into the Tajik army or demobilization. It was necessary to speed up the implementation of the peace process, he emphasized. Finally the SG expressed the concern about the fact that UTO had not contributed more effectively to the investigation of the killing of four members of UNMOT in July 1998. In the prevailing circumstances, he said that UNMOT had continued to limit its activities to Dushanbe and to observe strict security precautions.

As expressed in its Presidential Statement, the Security Council considered the report of the Secretary General, and regretted that progress had remained slow during the last three months and underlined the necessity for the parties to speed up the full and sequential implementation of the General Agreement, especially the Protocol on military issue. The Council called upon the parties to intensify their efforts to create conditions for the holding in 1999 of constitutional referendum and presidential election , as well as the timely holding of parliamentary election.

The Security council also considered that the holding of a meeting of the Contact Group at the level of Foreign Ministers in support of the peace process would indeed be useful, if properly prepared.

It called upon the international community to respond promptly and generously to the consolidated appeal for Tajikistan for 1999 launched in Geneva in December 1998. It also reminded both parties that the ability of the international community to mobilize and to continue assistance for Tajikistan is linked to the security of the personnel of UNMOT and international organizations and humanitarian workers.

Ü SRSG VISITS LENINABAD PROVINCE: During his visit to Leninabad Province in the second week of February, SRSG Mr Jan Kubis met regional and local authorities, members of international organizations and also held talks with the Provincial Governor, Mr Kossim Kossimov.

Expressing his gratitude to UNMOT for its invaluable support and assistance in bringing stable peace in the country, Mr. Kossimov stated that the province supported the General Agreement but the political situation which was very calm had significantly changed after the events of last November. He also voiced his concern that, with the continuing presence of Khudoberdiyev’s forces in some neighboring countries recurrence of the November events could not be ruled out.

While discussing on the Tajik- Uzbek relations, the Governor of the Leninabad Province informed SRSG that the province received 100% of gas, 80% of electricity and significant food supplies from Uzbekistan. He pointed out the fact that a 500,000 Uzbek minority lived in the Province ( population of Leninabad region-1850,000) and that there was a large Tajik minority in Uzbekistan. He called Uzbekistan a strategic partner of Tajkistan and expressed hope for an improvement of bilateral relation between Tashkent and Dushanbe.

SRSG Mr. Kubis emphasized that he was fully aware of the Region’s importance for the whole country and added that UNMOT had clearly expressed its strong disapproval of those who fought against the peace process. Furthermore, affirming his support for the Provincial authorities to overcome difficulties and continue the political and economic developments, he stressed the need for assistance from the international community and said that he discuss with international organizations the possibility of resuming their activities in the region.

Answering to a question about so called ‘third force’ in the country, SRSG Mr. Jan Kubis recalled that though the Peace Agreement was signed between two parties, the Government and the UTO, which were primarily responsible for its full implementation, steps must be taken to allow various political movements, which remained outside the Agreement, to participate in the political life of the country as soon as the period of preparations for Parliamentary Elections began.

SRSG also visited district headquarters of Ura-Tube where he held discussions with local government authorities about the ongoing peace process. He also visited some industrial sites in the region.

Ü SRSG MR. KUBIS VISITS TEHERAN TO DISCUSS TAJIK PEACE PROCESS: The SRSG, Mr. Jan Kubiš, traveled to the Iranian capital, Teheran, 21-23 February to discuss with Iranian foreign ministry officials the situation in Tajikistan as the coordinator of the Contact Group. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazi, praised UNMOT’s role in nurturing the peace process in Tajikistan and agreed with SRSG’s evaluation of the positive aspects of the peace process as well as those areas for which there was cause for concern. Mr. Kharazi shared the UN Security Council’s concerns about the slow pace of the peace process and stressed that the General Agreement must be implemented without delay and fully. He said Iran was seriously worried that external influences such as the Taleban in Afghanistan might take advantage of any delays in the peace process and try to derail it at the first opportune moment. He, therefore, welcomed the idea of holding a meeting of the Contact Group Foreign Ministers as a mechanism for reaffirming the importance of keeping the momentum of the peace process. The Iranian Foreign Minister indicated, however, that aims and aspirations of such a meeting should be specified clearly. Mr. Kharazi said Iran was keen to see parliamentary elections held in Tajikistan in early autumn as soon as constitutional reforms were put to referendum. During his two-day trip to Teheran Mr. Kubiš also met the Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and America, Mr. Morteza Sarmadi, and the Director General of the CIS Department at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Dolatabadi. In all his meetings Mr. Kubiš praised the role Iran is playing as an important member of the Contact Group in ensuring peace and stability in Tajikistan.

Ü SRSG MET WITH FM IVANOV: SRSG met with Foreign Minister of Russia Ivanov during the latter’s one day visit to Dushanbe. They exchanged views on the development of the peace process in Tajikistan and expressed their concerns about slow implementation of the General Agreement, which causes growing difficulties and increasing lack of confidence. They discussed concrete problems and constraints in its way and necessary steps to accelerate its implementation.

Ü SRSG HELD TALKS WITH UTO REPRESENTATIVES: SRSG talked to several UTO leaders and representatives , including Field Commanders during the recent period. They brought out the growing disappointments of the UTO Field Commanders and rank-and-file due to government’s unwillingness to implement its part of the obligations under the peace process. They referred to the various unfulfilled aspects of the Military protocol, specifically government’s failure to proceed with the integration. They remarked that the government had not only delayed appointing UTO personnel to the regional and local level posts but also had impeded the reinstating of former members of the power structures to their previous positions. They expressed disappointment that the President had not given the Opposition any of the portfolios of the Power Ministries and implied that this constituted a clear violation of the General Agreement. According to the interlocutors, since the Leninabad events last November, government has been losing credibility with the UTO, especially because of the problems with appointments.

Ü A SPECIAL GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION CONSTITUTED TO IMPLEMENT INTEGRATION OF UTO PERSONNEL: A special governmental commission, headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister H. A. Turajonzoda, comprising the NSC Secretary Amirkul Azimov, the President’s Advisor on Defense and Law-enforcement, Mizrob Kabirov and heads of power ministries was established upon the instruction of President Rakhmonov. According to Chairman of CNR MS Mr. Sanginov, this Commission was constituted with a view to take concrete steps to expedite the integration of UTO personnel.

Starting from 14th February, the Commission members including Mr Ashurov (Chief of JCRC) held several meetings with the UTO armed personnel in Kofarnikon and Leninsky districts. During the meetings, Mr. Turajonzoda called on the fighters to unite and observe discipline and to unwaveringly implement the provisions of Military Protocol for establishing peace in the country. Likewise, the NSC Secretary assured the fighters that the reintegration of UTO formations into the power structures would promote security, lasting peace and stability in the county. According to Chairman CNR MS, the commission would prepare a detailed list of fighters to assign them to designated government units.

To assist the efforts of the Commission, the Tajik government adopted a resolution on the formation of temporary units of the armed forces and other power structures. Such temporary units will be formed on the basis of the UTO military formations. In this connection, the heads of the power structures were tasked to define the organizational structure and chain of command of those units, and the Ministry of Finance was tasked to allocate the necessary financial resources to the MOD, MOI, the Committee on the Protection of the State Border and the Committee on Emergency Situations.

Ü "CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN" COMMENCES IN MINISTRIES OF POWER STRUCTURES: In connection with the Tajik President’s instruction that all old Identity Cards of the personnel serving with the ministries of power structures be exchanged, Minister of Defense, Charily Khayrulloyev, ordered all servicemen to hand over their identity-cards issued by the Defense Ministry. The Minister also ordered all servicemen to hand over arms and ammunition including official-issues, which would be authorized in future for re-distribution to them in accordance with the codes stipulated in the military regulation.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Minister of Interior announced that a verification process of all personnel of the government power structures, which was to be completed within a month, had started.

The ‘clean up campaign’ in MOD, MOI, MOS has been taken up in order to rid national security agencies of criminal elements.

Ü CNR PROPOSES A BICAMERAL PARLIAMENT: The Tajik National Reconciliation Commission has proposed that a two-chamber parliament be established to replace the current single-chamber parliament. According to the Commission’s statement, the lower house made up of 91 deputies, would be a professional and permanently sitting legislative body, whereas the 45-member upper-house, which would include representatives of regions, cities and districts (having the status of republic constituents), would hold sessions periodically. It has also recommended that the administrative system of the new parliament should correspond to that of the present Majlis Oli.

The proposal has been sent to President Emomali Rakhmonov and Speaker of the Parliament Safarali Rajabov for consideration.

Ü UN SENDS AID TO AFGHAN QUAKE-HIT AREAS: United Nations Organization sent a consignment of humanitarian cargoes to the areas which were hit by a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan. The consignment consists of food, tents, blankets, sheets, plastic tanks for drinkable water and medical supplies. During the earthquake, some 60 people died and 500 were injured and thousands were left homeless.

Referring to this aid, the official representative of UN Secretary General, Fred Ekhard said, "Despite the fact that international personnel were evacuated from Afghanistan in full strength in August 1998, after the murder in that country of an Italian Military Observer from the UN Peace-making Mission in Afghanistan, four UN staff members were again dispatched there. They will distribute 55 tones of food among the families, whose situation is specially serious."

On 16 February, six blasts took place in Tashkent killing 15 and injuring over 150 people altogether. Uzbek authorities detained about 30 people in this connection. According to Uzbek President, all the people detained were trained in Cockney, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and were members of various terrorist groups of religious extremists such as Hejbollah and Wahaabi religious sects. Both the Government and UTO distanced and rejected the implication.

In the wake of the tragic incident, President Emomali Rakhmonov sent a message of condolences to the Uzbek President. Condemning the incident, President Rakhmonov asserted that those terrorist attacks were aimed at destabilizing the situation in Uzbekistan and the entire region and further added that Tajikistan opposed all forms of terrorism, regardless of the motives.

q MR. NURI MEETS FC MIRZO ZIOEV AND OTHER FIELD COMMANDERS IN TAVILDARA:UTO leader Mr. Nuri visited Tavildara on 22 February and held discussions with Mr. Mirzo Zioev and other Field Commanders from the Karategin Valley. According to Mr. Nuri, the Field Commanders raised numerous issues reportedly affecting the implementation of the General Agreement, including the issue of the appointment of Mr. Mirzo Zioev. Mr Nuri also said that FCs were ready to integrate their fighters into government power structures but any further delay in this process could lead to a crisis.

q KYRGYZSTAN DECIDES TO WITHDRAW ITS BATTALION FROM TAJIKISTAN: The Kyrgyz Government had pulled out its battalion from the Tajik-Afghan border on 23-24 February. The decision to withdraw this battalion from Tajikistan was reported to have been motivated by the expiration of the CIS resolution adopted in 1993 and the financial constraints of the Kyrgyz government. The Kyrgyz contingent of the CIS PKF in Tajikistan which consisted of about 500 men is reportedly to reinforce the protection of the Kyrgyz border.

q RETURN OF REFUGEES: Fourteen Tajik refugees from Kyrgystan returned to their home land on 18 February 1999 as part of the repatriation programme of the UNHCR. In 1998, 1,150 Tajik refugees had returned home from Kyrgystan. According to estimates of international organizations, the number of Tajik repatriates from Kyrgystan might reach more than 1,000 this year.

q ADB INTERESTED IN TAJIK INFRA-STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL FIELD: During a

meeting between SRSG and Asian Development Bank representative, the latter confirmed that the Asian Development Bank would be interested in expanding its activities in the country’s infrastructure and social field, among others. The representative added that the Bank would be prepared to consider specific requests and projects in support of the peace process. In addition, the ADB representative brought out that they would like to use existing capacities of the UN and NGOs to implement their projects and programmes.