US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
May 19, 1997STATEMENT BY NICHOLAS BURNS, SPOKESMAN
The state Department welcomes progress in Tajikistan's United Nations mediated peace process through agreements signed between President Rahmonov and opposition Leader Nuri at the conclusion ot a May 17-18 summit in Bishkek. The agreements call for lifting the ban on all political parties and movements after they have disarmed, and alloted to the opposition 25% of the seats on the Central Electoral Commission to prepare new parliamentary elections during the transition period.
This summit paves the way for a full negotiating round which should start in the coming days. The round should work out the last details required for a comprehensive peace accord which we hope will be ready for signing before the July I deadline. We call upon both sides to approach this next round in the spirit of cooperation and compromise so that this historic opportunity for national reconciliation is not lost.
The State Department wishes to express its support for the peace process and encourages the Tajik nation to take full advantage of this opportunity to move beyond its civil conflict. We are in the process of considering what kinds of assistance we can provide to aid this transition, but note that the key to its success lies in the political will of the sides themselves in implementing these accords - to lay down their alrms, to work together in joint structures, and to cooperate in the tasks of state- buildirig and achieving economic progress in a civilian economy.