1-21 May 1999, No 39

IN THIS ISSUE:

In his report to the Security Council on 6 May 1999, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan said that the peace process in Tajikistan made some progress, however, it continued to be held back by a deep seated lack of confidence between the parties.

Referring to UNMOT, he said, "In close cooperation with OSCE and the other members of Contact Group, UNMOT has been assisting the parties in overcoming obstacles and contributing to an atmosphere conducive to finding agreed solutions. The reopening of field offices, made possible by the relative calm in Tajikistan, should strengthen the mission in this regard."

Pointing out that the Contact Group had played an important role, the Secretary General remarked that he fully supported the line it had taken and believed that a meeting at the level of foreign ministers, which was agreed in principle last summer, could lend further impetus to the peace process.

With respect to approving UNMOT’s mandate that has been further extended until 15 November 1999, he said, " the Security Council adopted a strategy that rests on two pillars. UNMOT’s activities, which are funded through assessed contributions, make up one pillar. Support for demobilization of fighters and for elections makes up the second pillar, which is funded from voluntary contributions. ...The second pillar remains extremely weak, due to lack of voluntary contributions." He added that projects for demobilization such as the one UNOPS is launching in Jigrital are key in this regard, and should be duplicated in other areas where the security situation permitted it.

Touching upon the humanitarian activities of UN system, he brought out that the World Bank has earmarked $ 95 mln for structural reforms, disaster relief, educational reform, rehabilitation of private farms and enhancement of organizational capabilities of the Government. He also mentioned that the UNDP, in conjunction with the World Bank, financed a survey on living conditions in Tajikistan and the results of the survey would allow the Government to review its poverty strategy and better focus on vulnerable groups.

On security, the UN Secretary General said that it was better than in earlier periods, however, the situation remained tense, and there were some incidents which were politically motivated.

On 5 May, Opposition leader Nuri addressed a letter to SRSG, which carried his grievances concerning numerous problems in the peace process, such as, the question of constitutional amendments, the amnesty of former UTO fighters, non-fulfillment of 30% quota, and the appointment of Mirzo Zioev. Mr. Nuri, who demanded in the message to SRSG that the President solve those issues in twenty days, was unanimously supported by CNR Opposition members, who issued a statement calling on President Rakhmonov to adopt a constructive approach to these questions for further successful implementation of the General Agreement.

All the above issues were again raised recently by the CG and by the SRSG, both at his latest press conference as well as at his meeting with the President. They were actively pursued by the President immediately after his return from visits to the USA and Russia. At the meeting with the SRSG, before receipt of Nuri’s letter, the President had expressed his determination and confidence that the current problems regarding constitutional amendments, amnesty and others, would soon be overcome.

President Rakhmonov promulgated a decree on amnesty law on 04 May, with a view to strengthening up the peace process and the national reconciliation. The Presidential decree suspended the ongoing examination of cases under investigation and criminal cases. The decree also instructed the Prosecutor-General, the MOI and the MOS, to propose the Supreme Court of Tajikistan to stop examining criminal cases and investigations related to UTO fighters. It was also specified that the amnesty would not cover those armed people who would break the law after the issuance of this decree.

The draft Bill was submitted to Majlisioli, and its special session held on 14 May 1999 adopted an act on amnesty of UTO supporters.

In this connection, President Rakhmonov in his address to the Majlisi Oli called it a historical act in the peace process. He also added that the support extended by the UTO leadership and FCs for the amnesty was a crucial step in the reconciliation process, and he reaffirmed that all UTO fighters must abide by law like all Tajik citizens. DPM Azimov also said that the act would affect over five thousand opposition fighters who participated in the civil war, however, it would not refer to those who served sentences based on criminal offenses.

First Deputy PM and First Deputy Leader of the UTO, Mr. Turajonzoda, who chaired the meeting, said that the President had issued a decree on the bases of the CNR’s proposal and submitted the list of 5,377 UTO fighters who entered the country’s power wielding structures and asked for a halt to detentions, persecution and pressure against them, and in general, to stop criminal proceedings against them. He also brought out that the UTO leadership and its Field Commanders supported this step - the CNR and the President’s initiative on amnesty - and that the release of joint declaration of the statement was a significant step which could strengthen the trust between the sides for the further implementation of the peace process. He added that, after the approval of law on 14 May 1999, any UTO fighter / member / supporter would be equal before the law as a citizen and whoever commits a crime would be answerable for his acts himself.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the CNR Military Sub-Commission appreciated the success of the meeting and said it was a courageous step forward in the peace process. Other UTO leaders who spoke called for the release of prisoners under the amnesty law and entreated everyone to support the peace process so as to build lasting peace.

The Deputy SRSG Mr. Paulo Lembo had this to say, "We should look into the future but not forget the past and this is not an option, this is a lasting reality. This document you have declared today is not a legal but a symbolic one. The courage will be seen how strongly this document you signed in front of internationals’ presence will be defended."

CNR Chairman and Tajik Opposition leader Said Abdullo Nuri, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Iran, said in this connection, "Although I was not informed about it, I support the amnesty statement because my responsibility is to defend peace and mutual understanding in the

country". He also expressed his exhilaration that the government and the CNR are working together

to settle the problems. "I ask God that during the time I am engaged in recovering my health, the Government and the CNR cure other ailments of the agreement. The leadership should make new statements on the completion of each issue everyday", Mr. Nuri said.

( UNMOT Newsletter presents the full text of the Joint Statement at the end-page of this issue)

SRSG Jan Kubis left for New York to attend the Security Council’s deliberations on Secretary General’s report on Tajikistan. Before leaving Dushanbe, he met with top government representatives, including President Rakhmonov, and UTO leaders for extensive discussions on the peace process. SRSG’s interlocutors expressed the opinion that there was a fair chance of reaching appropriate solutions on most of the outstanding questions soon.

Presidential Spokesman , Zafar Saidov, issued a statement on 18 May in which the President declared that the Tajik peace process is irreversible and that "it is gaining pace". The statement noted that the peace process is entering a decisive stage and called on the CNR to play a more effective role in the implementation of the General Agreement. Rakhmonov reiterated his firm intention to hold the referendum on changes and amendments to the Constitution at the earliest possible date and recalled that this would determine the exact date of the parliamentary elections. He said, however, that regardless of other considerations the parliamentary elections must take place before the expiration of the term of the present parliament in February 2000. Referring to the presidential election, the President announced that according to the Constitution of the Republic they would be held before 6 November 1999.

SRSG met Ambasssador Buhuara, Head of OSCE mission, who just returned from Vienna where he had briefed the Permanent Council on Tajikistan. Ambassador Buhuara noted an increased interest towards Tajikistan, and that at this point of time it was considered premature to discuss

specifics of OSCE activities in support of the elections in Tajikistan. He said that he intended to brief the Permanent Council on that particular topic in second half of June.

SRSG accompanied by the CMO met with the Tajik Minister of Defense, Col Gen Khayrulayev. Minister of Defense inter alia mentioned that in the reform-process of the Tajik army a substantial reduction of MOD took place in 1998 - approximately from 17000 to 12000 - and the integration of approximately 2000 former UTO fighters could be ensured, even if it would require additional reductions of the less efficient present employees, which the Minister was prepared to do. Additionally, the MOD said the request from the UTO side to accord the same ranks to the former fighters as they had had previously could not be met due to their lack of formal military education.

President Rakhmonov met with the US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Robert Finn on 5 May in Dushanbe. At the meeting, they paid special attention to a number of issues related to bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the USA . The interlocutors highly assessed the results of the working visit of the Tajik President to Washington. They also spoke about the significance of the need of state’s direct talks and meetings with representatives from various US ministries, representatives of the US State Department, with the US authorities and heads of international banking and financial structures. Issues related to ways of the practical implementation of the agreements reached within the framework of the President’s working visit to Washington were also discussed at the meeting.

Tajik PM Azimov met with the IMF Mission led by Tapio Saavalainen on 28 April. During the conversation the sides discussed the first year of the three-year Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) programme and also the measures proposed under this programme for the second financial year, 1999. They also discussed prospects for developing various branches of the national economy, the state of the banking system and the activity of the Republic’s financial structures. On the whole, Mr. Saavalainen expressed satisfaction with the results of Tajikistan’s development in the economic sphere over the past two/three years. However, he noted that there could be no qualitative changes and consistent improvements in the republic’s economic mechanism unless the social and political situation was stable. He also told the Tajik PM that the IMF planned to allocate to Tajikistan the second tranche of a credit intended for implementing the government’s medium-term economic programme for 1999-2001. The allocation of the tranche would depend on timely completion of the process of privatization in the country.

President Rakhmonov and the Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan discussed the follow-up of the agreements reached during the President’s recent visit to Moscow. The Ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to discuss more thoroughly practical steps for further development of bilateral cooperation during the forthcoming session of the joint Russian-Tajik Commission on Economic Cooperation, which is scheduled to take place in Dushanbe at the end of this month.

SRSG met Mr. Hakim Feerasta from the Aga Khan Foundation, who expressed certain concern regarding the uneven progress in the peace process and resulting instability. The Foundation plans to bring a high ranking visitor to Tajikistan in some three weeks time but only if the peace process was progressing well and the country stabilized. Feerasta also confirmed the Foundation’s intention to continue the implementation of their programs in the whole Karategin Valley and expressed his highest appreciation and support for the return of UNOPS and eventually UNMOT.

Leninabad region has reportedly created favourable conditions for expanding the activities of humanitarian and international organizations. Leninabad Governor Kasimov was reported as having met with the head of one such organization, which provides the region with medical care, training and equipment. Commenting on the freedom of the activities of political parties and organizations, Kasimov was further quoted as saying that the government of RT and provincial authorities have established the necessary conditions allowing for free functioning of political parties and public organizations.

On 13 April, CIS Executive Secretary Mr. Yuriy Yarov arrived in Dushanbe and held talks with President Rakhmonov. The President briefed the former on the social and political situation in Tajikistan and informed him that progress on peace process was gradually improving in the country. Sides also discussed ways for reforming the activities of the CIS to consolidate its structures and enhance cooperation between CIS countries in a qualitatively different ways. In addition, President hoped that revival of former relations and expansion of further cooperation will promote economic integration. Yuriy Yarov expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the RT was firmly pursuing a path of adhering to signed documents.

* Tajik Presidents signs decrees: President Rakhmonov signed a decree approving the treaty on Tajikistan joining the Custom’s Union, which consists of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The President also signed a decree on Tajikistan entering an agreement between the same aforementioned countries on the formation of a transport union (signed in Moscow on 22 January 1998)

* New UNICEF Representative for Central Asia : DPM Dodkhudoeva received the new UNICEF Representative for Central Asia, Thomas Thomson, as well as the Head of UNICEF Mission in Tajikistan, Branislav Jeric to discuss UNICEF’s plans of activities in the country until year 2000.

* MI-8 Helicopter Crashes in Anzob Pass: Tajik Presidential Guard’s MI-8

* Russian Minister of Defense Visits Dushanbe :According to CIS PKF, Russian Minister of Defense, Marshal Igor Sergeev visited Dushanbe on 17-18 May and left for Yerenev on 19 May 1999.

JOINT RUSSIAN-TAJIK MILITARY EXERCISE: A joint Russian-Tajik company level military exercise was conducted at the Russian 201 Mechanized Infantry Division military range of Lahor on 27-28 April, within the framework of the bilateral Agreement on Military and Technical Cooperation. The results of the exercise was found successful by both Russian and Tajik military.

FORMER UTO FIGHTERS START GUARDING BORDER IN SOUTH: Two hundred former UTO fighters, who had joined the state border troops of Tajikistan, were sent to Qobodiyon District in Khatlon Region on 4 May to carry out their border security service. The former fighters were led by a deputy head of the State Border Protection Committee of the country, Maj-Gen Mahmudbek Ahmadov. In the near future , they will guard the state border of Tajikistan independently.

HOSTAGE CRISIS: The latest hostage-taking crisis was resolved as the remaining two (out of six) militiamen, taken hostage on 28 April, were released by Mansur Muakalov’s group in exchange for four of his fighters arrested by Government authorities in March.

ATTESTATION IN KATHLON REGION: According to Mr. Masudov, Chairman of the Attestation Commission, the Commission completed its work in Kathlon region and it would soon submit its report to CNR.

SHOOT-OUT AT TAJIK-AFGHAN BORDER: According to RBF, its patrol clashed with armed Afghan detachment at Shuroabad, killing seven of them in their attempt to cross the Tajik-Afghan border illegally.

ARMED CLASH AT DZHARF : An armed clash took place between Uzbek opposition groups at Dzharf (NE from Garm) in Karategin Valley on 15 May. Reportedly, 18 people died and about 50 were wounded.

According to CNR, an investigation team left for Hoit on 18 to examine the incident that occurred between Uzbek opposition groups. Mirzo Zioev, who controls that part of Tajikistan, disarmed the Uzbek groups and detained 4 people involved in the accident.