27 October - 10 November 1997, No. 4

A joint Government and CNR delegation headed by Prime Minister Azimov and CNR Chairman Nuri visited the Karategin and Tavildara area on 31 October - 1 November. CNR Deputy Chairman Dostiev, ministers and other high government officials were part of the delegation. The main objective of the mission was to assess the socio-economic situation in the region and inform the population on the peace process and the CNR work. Premier Azimov and Mr. Nuri met with local authorities and UTO field commanders who pledged full commitment to the implementation of the Peace Accord. Prime Minister Azimov promised to provide urgent assistance in revitalization of the socio-economic life of the region. Following the visit Prime Minister Azimov held a Cabinet meeting and informed about the most pressing economic and social issues of the region and assigned specific tasks to appropriate ministries and government organizations.

In accordance with the Protocol on Military Issues the process of registration of the UTO fighters and military equipment has started in Tavildara and Karategin valley. The process has been monitored by UNMOT observers who occasionally had to insist in having access to registration data. This matter will be clearified with the CNR. The Chairman of the CNR Military sub-commission Khabibulo Sanginov expressed satisfaction with the start of registration work which is expected to be completed by 15 November.

During the first stage of the implementation of the Protocol on Military issues, which is envisaged to be implemented within a period of two months following the start of the CNR work in Dushabe, UTO shall concentrate its armed units in assembly areas, agreed by the two sides, in the districts of Vanj, Garm, Jirgatal, Komsomolobad, Kofarnihon, Rushan, Tavildara, Tajikabad, city of Khorog and the village of Magmurud

President Rakhmonov signed a Decree on Central Attestation (Review) Commission envisaged in the Protocol on Military issues. The commission is established on the basis of parity with 10 members each from the Government and the Opposition. Mr. Muzaffar Ashurov, head of the Parliamentarian Committee on Legislature, Defense and Security, has been appointed as the chairman of the Commission and Mr. Dodarjon Maksudov as the deputy chairman. The Commission has been tasked to complete the attestation of integrated personnel of UTO and the government forces within four months and report to the President and CNR on the status of the attestation every month.

During the meeting CNR Chairman Nuri pointed out progress achieved in the work of the CNR, especially the repatriation of refugees and the release of POWs and detainees. Mr. Nuri pointed to some financial and material difficulties related to CNR activities and

At the regular meeting of the Contact Group on 4 November 1997 CG members were briefed on the work of the CNR Sub-commission on legal Issues. Mr. Faiziddin Imomov and Mr. Shermakhmad Shoyev said that, since the CNR started working in Dushanbe, the Sub-commission had been mainly dealing with the implementation of the Amnesty Law. However, they expressed concern about slow progress in the work pointing out that only 58 out of total of 993 persons suggested to the authorities for amnesty had been released so far. A meeting between members of CNR and officials of power structures is scheduled to take place soon to discuss the difficulties and speed up the process of amnesty in a more concerted way.

REPATRIATION OF TAJIK REFUGEES FROM NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN CONTINUES

In total over 2200 Tajik refugees so far have been repatriated from Sakhi Camp in Afghanistan via Uzbek border town of Termez. According to UNHCR material and logistical support is ready for successful completion of the repatriation of the remaining Tajik refugees from northern Afghanistan in three to four weeks. CNR sub-commission on refugees dispatched a group to review living conditions of returnees in Shartuz area in general and verify some complaints about recovery of houses and properties by returnees.

Several land mine accidents occurred recently in Tavildara area causing casualties among civilian population. The problem of land mines in some parts of the country remains high on the agenda of UN humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan. The Contact Group of guarantor states and organizations also discussed the issue and expressed concerns and emphasized the urgent need for international assistance in mine clearance activities in Tajikistan. SRSG Merrem during his recent meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Abdurakhmon Azimov and Minister of Defense Sherali Khayrulloyev raised the issue and enquired about the specific assistance needs of the Government . Requests for assistance in mine clearance will be made during the

A conference on an international treaty banning land mines is scheduled to open in Ottawa in December 1997.

Donor Conference on International Support for Peace and Reconciliation in Tajikistan will be held in Vienna on 24-25 November. Invitations have been sent to 136 delegations including 67 UN member states, 16 intergovernmental/international organizations and foundations, and 27 international NGOs. The main objective of the Conference is to mobilize one-time assistance exclusively in support of efforts and activities directed to the implementation of the peace process.

President Rakhmonov received IMF delegation headed by Mr. Tapio Saavalainen. They exchanged views on issues relating to macro-economic cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan and IMF. It is hoped that Tajikistan would present a program to the Executive Council of IMF for approval before the end of the year.

At the request of the Government of Tajikistan, a World Bank Mission visited Tajikistan in September 1997 to identify the outline of a possible post-conflict assistance program. With a view to support the current peace process in the country the World Bank decided to launch two simultaneous operations: A Post-Conflict Rehabilitation Credit of an amount of about US$ 10 million which is expected to be presented to the Board in December 1997 and will help the Government to face immediate general budgetary constraints arising from the peace agreement implementation and social protection needs; and a Post-Conflict Assistance Reconstruction also of an amount of about US$ 10 million, which, as agreed with both the Government and the chairman of CNR, will address the specific needs for

President Rakhmonov received Mr. Akhmad Mukhammad Ali, President of IBR, and exchanged views on economic cooperation and investment opportunities in Tajikistan. Mr. Mukhammad Ali informed that two expert groups will visit Tajikistan in near future to continue to assess possibilities of economic cooperation and investment. President Rakhmonov proposed to convene a conference of Islamic investors in Tajikistan and Mr. Mukhammad Ali supported the idea. During the visit two agreements were signed between the Government of Tajikistan and IBR in the field of telecommunications, building and reconstruction of primary schools in various regions of the Republic.

As reported by the State Statistics Agency of Tajikistan in the first nine months of 1997 GDP has increased by two per cent compared to the same period in 1996. Inflation rate in the consumer sector was 139.5 per cent with an average monthly inflation rate of 10.5 per cent. Export earnings exceeded US$ 544 ml. with import expenses of US$ 427 ml. Among CIS countries Russia is the main trade partner accounting for 55 per cent of Tajik exports. At the same time export to Uzbekistan amounted to over US$ 124 ml. Total foreign trade turnover, compared to the same period in 1996, increased by 24 per cent. At the end of September budget revenues reached 88.7 per cent and expenditures 85.5 per cent of the previously planned amounts.

Delegations of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan held talks from 27-28 October 1997 in Termez (Uzbekistan) on the situation along the Tajik-Uzbek border, especially in light of recent anti-government activities of some illegal armed groups in Tursunzade area. Both sides emphasized necessity for close cooperation between competent authorities of the two countries for a timely settlement of problems and coordination of activities. Delegations of the two countries signed a Protocol and agreed to hold a meeting of representatives of Tajik and Uzbek border forces of Gissar and Shartuz areas in near future; strengthen legal bases for cooperation between competent organs of the two countries; carry out joint activities to prevent illegal activities of anti-government armed formations on the territories of both countries, detain and extradite leaders of those groups; enhance efforts against illicite drug trafficking, and export of arms; hold regular meetings for exchange of information and coordination of actions to prevent and neutralize illegal activities along the border.