By unanimously adopting resolution 1138 (1997), the Council authorized the Secretary-General to increase the number of United Nations military observers in Tajikistan from 45 to 120 and to strengthen the Mission’s civilian component.

Under its expanded mandate, UNMOT will investigate ceasefire violations and report its findings to the United Nations and to the Commission on National Reconciliation, the main body through which the Government of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition are working to implement the Agreement. The UN mission will monitor the assembly of fighters of the United Tajik Opposition and their reintegration, disarmament and demobilization as well as assist in the reintegration of ex-combatants into governmental power structures. UNMOT will also provide good offices and expert advice as stipulated in the General Agreement and cooperate with the Commission on National Reconciliation, its subcommittees and Commission on Elections and the Holding of Referendum.

Welcoming the convening of a donor conference in Vienna on 24 and 25 November to obtain international support for the Agreement’s implementation, the Council encouraged Member States to respond generously and contribute to the success of the peace process.

CNR Political Subcommission has started deliberations of draft bill on "Law on Political Parties" which is considered to be one of the fundamental documents of the new political system of the country. The draft document prepared by government experts is to be approved by CNR before presentation to the Majlisi Oli. The new law will second on lifting the ban on a number of opposition political parties and movements which have been banned since 1993.

The Protocol on Political Issues signed on 18 May 1997 by President Rakhmonov and UTO leader Nuri in Bishkek stipulates that the ban and limitations on the activities of political parties and movements that are part of the UTO and on the mass media shall be lifted by the authorities of Tajikistan following the completion of the second stage of implementation of the Protocol on Military Issues.

A joint CNR/Government meeting with the

The Donor Conference on International Support for Peace and Reconciliation in Tajikistan will be held in Vienna on 24-25 November. The Tajik Government delegation headed by President Emomali Rakhmonov left Dushanbe on 23 November for Vienna where more than 130 delegations, including UN member states, international organizations and foundations are expected to take part in the Conference. The delegation of Tajikistan comprises high ranking government officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Talbak Nazarov, as well as CNR Chairman Said Abduloh Nuri.

The Secretary General of the United Nations strongly condemned all acts of violence against relief workers and expressed hope that efforts undertaken by the Tajik authorities to find the two French citizens would soon yield results. UNMOT also issued a statement expressing outrage with this hideous act of terrorism against members of international community in Dushanbe.

The policy of the United Nations with regard to terrorism is clearly defined on the basis of existing international norms as reflected in relevant General Assembly resolutions. Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism was adopted by General Assembly resolution 49/60 of December 1994. The resolution strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and whomsoever committed. Hostage taking as one of the most grave form of terrorism was condemned by the international community in International Convention against Taking of Hostages adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 34/146 of 17 December 1979.

The Central Attestation Commission established in accordance with the Protocol on Military Issues held its first meeting on 13 November 1997 and discussed organizational matters. CNR Chairman Nuri and Chairman of the Central Attestation Commission Ashurov addressed the meeting. Members of the Commission were tasked to work out the statute of the Commission. The Commission is to complete the attestation of the government and military personnel integrated into national armed forces within the next four months.

Members of the CNR Subcommission on military issues carried out registration of UTO fighters and their military equipment in Khorog, Rushan and Vanj areas. The registration process was monitored by UNMOT military observers. Earlier the Subcommission carried out the registration in the Karategin and Tavildara zones.

Repatriation of 3158 Tajik refugees from Sakhi Camp in northern Afghanistan via Uzbek port of Termez was completed on 15 November. Another group of 54 refugees from Hereyat area in Afghanistan were repatriated via Turkmenistan on 6 November. In total, around 10,000 Tajik refugees returned from Afghanistan since July last. All returnees were provided with one month food ration and other essentials and UNHCR will continue this assistance for initial four months of their repatriation. With the successful repatriation of refugees from northern Afghanistan the focus of UNHCR work is shifting to repatriation of Tajik refugees from Turkmenistan and other CIS countries.

Following a request from the President of Tajkistan to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for an urgent drug and crime control assistance to the country a joint United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP)/ Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Department (CPCJD) Mission visited Tajikistan from 1 to 10 November 1997. The purpose of the mission was to review the situation on the ground and develop a Multi-sectoral Drug and Crime Control Assistance Project for Tajikistan, as well as to assess possibilities for the expansion of the on-going subregional cross-border cooperation Project (Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan) to drug trafficking points on Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan.

Days of national unity were held last week in the Vanj district of Gorno-Badakshan in support of peace and reconciliation process in the country. The ceremonies were attended by representatives of the local and regional hukumats, field-commanders of the local self-defense, as well as UTO forces, and local religious leaders. The district center and villages were decorated with posters and slogans with President Rakhmonov’s and UTO leader Nuri’s quotations on peace and national reconciliation. Sports events were also held during the celebrations including a wrestling tournament, gushtingiri.