Review of printed media of Tajikistan - March 25 – April 7, 2000

President of Belorussia visited Dushanbe
Newspapers informed of the official visit of delegation of Belorussia, headed by President Alexander Lukashenko, on April 4-5. During the visit, President Lukashenko and President Rahmonov had a meeting in private. On April 5, the sides signed the agreement on friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The two presidents visited Dangara and Regar. On the same day, President of Belorussia departed from Tajikistan.

President met with regional director of the World Bank
Newspapers reported that President of RT Emomali Rahmonov received, on March 31, the new regional director of World Bank in Central Asia Kiyeshi Kadera. Kiyeshi Kadera introduced himself as regional director to President of RT. At the meeting, the representative of the World Bank said that as part of strategy of assistance to the country two more projects will be submitted to the Board of Directors of WB before June 30 – for reduction of risk of Lake Sarez and for reform of agriculture of the country.

Delegation of China will visit Dushanbe on April 16
Newspaper Asia-Plus No. 10 reported of the meeting on March 25 between Minister of Economy and Foreign Economic Relations of RT Yahyo Azimov and trade adviser of embassy of China in RT Van Maochun. The main issue of discussion at the meeting was the forthcoming visit to Tajikistan of government delegation of China, headed by deputy to Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Chzha Sianh. The main goal of the visit, scheduled for April 16, is to study and expand potential possibilities for bilateral cooperation between RT and China.

First session of lower chamber of parliament
Newspapers reported that the first session of Majlisi Namoyandagon began work in Dushanbe on March 27. The main issue in the agenda is election of head of the chamber. The deputy from thee Garm district Sadullo Khairulloyev was elected chairman of Majlisi Namoyandagon. 57 out of the 60 deputies present at the session supported his candidacy through secret ballot.
Newspaper Biznes i Politika No. 12 cited the opinion of deputy to chairman of Majlisi Namoyandagon Gulafzo Savriddinova that the new parliament is different from the previous one because out of 63 deputies eight are women. The previous parliament of 181 included only five women. By her opinion, it is a great accomplishment for women.

Last meeting of CNR
Newspapers reported that on March 26, in presence of many foreign guests, the Commission for National Reconciliation held its last meeting. Newspapers Asia-Plus, Najot informed that chairman of CNR Sayeed Abdullo Nuri noted that CNR fulfilled its mission and helped to establish stability in Tajikistan. Although, by his opinion, integration of former fighters of United Tajik Opposition and provision of a 30% quota in government structures and return of refugees have not been completed yet. Newspaper Najot quoted Nuri saying that part of former fighters of UTO, integrated in power structures of the government, are not provided with uniform and food, and are in poor state. More than 108,000 Tajik refugees live in CIS and about one thousand – in Pakistan. S.A.Nuri also stressed that "without complete resolving of all provisions of inter-Tajik peace accords reliable peace would be impossible in the country".

President dismisses CNR
Newspaper reported about the meeting of President of RT Emomali Rahmonov with members of Commission for National Reconciliation. President thanked members of the Commission for their work. He said that they found the will and strength to bring it to successful logical completion. At the meeting, President of RT signed and read the decree on dismissal of Commission for National Reconciliation and its organs from April 1, 2000.

Fraction of communists in the new parliament
Newspaper Asia-Plus informed of intention of the Communist Party of Tajikistan to create a fraction in the lower chamber of Tajik parliament. The newspaper referred to chairman of the party Shodi Shabdolov who stated that the program of communists differs significantly from political party of the party of power – the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan. The communist deputies intend to create a fraction to defend their interests. Shodi Shabdolov said that all necessary documents have already been submitted to secretariat of Majlisi Namoyandagon.

Meeting of leaders of IRP
Newspaper Najot reported that heads of regional and district organizations of Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan gathered for a meeting on March 31. The meeting concentrated on discussing the recent parliamentary elections. Participants of the meeting agreed that the elections were not fair, and the Central Commission for Elections and Referendum reported smaller number of votes for the IRP. Leader of IRP Sayeed Abdullo Nuri took part in the meeting.

Jubilee of TADAZ
Newspapers Asia-Plus No. 10 and Vecherni Dushanbe No. 13 reported that on March 31 the flagship of Tajik economy – Tajik Aluminum Plant celebrates its 25th jubilee. The first aluminum was molten here at the shop No. 5 twenty-five years ago. Being one of the world’s largest enterprises of this kind (after aluminum plants in Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk), the plant is the matter of national pride of Tajikistan. The plant intends to increase production of aluminum in 2000 up to 300,000 tons.

Enterprise returned to work
Newspaper Narodnaya Gazeta informed that the Vakhsh nitrogen fertilizer plant resumed work after the almost-a-year –long interruption. First output is scheduled for April. Before the war, the annual output capacity of the plant was 180,000 tons of carbamide. The plant was forced to stop by interrupted supply of natural gas. This year, the plant intends to produce 30,000 tons of the fertilizer.

Military maneuvers "Southern shield"
Newspapers reported about the military maneuvers "Southern shield of Commonwealth – 2000" and maneuvers of the united system of air defense that were held in Shahritus district in south of Tajikistan on march 28 – April 3. On April 2, President of RT Emomali Rahmonov observed the actions of the armed forces and gave high estimation to their interaction. Minister of Defense of Russia Marshal Igor Sergeyev and his colleagues from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan also observed the maneuvers. In the interview to newspaper Biznes i Politika No. 14 Igor Sergeyev said that the maneuvers were held at high organizational level. Igor Sergeyev expects that the system of air defense of CIS will be expanded.

Operation "Law and order" finalized
Newspaper Asia-Plus No. 11 reported that Ministry of Internal Affairs finalized the special operation "Law and order" that was carried out in the capital on March 19 – April 1. In the operation, mobile groups of power structures confiscated 110 pieces of illegally carried firearms – 65 Kalashnikov machine guns, 33 pistols, 16 grenades and 3,158 rounds of ammunition. 26 guns belonged to Ministry of Internal Affairs, 24 – Ministry of Defense and Committee for Protection of State Border, 6 – Ministry of Emergency Situations, and 46 – to other special organizations and Russian military staff. The mobile groups arrested 20 persons who were earlier announced wanted. 44 sets of camouflage uniform were confiscated. The groups detained 273 vehicles with tinted glasses, 43 cars without state registration, and 30 – with foreign registration.

One million worth of narcotics destroyed
Newspaper Asia-Plus informed that Russian border guards intercepted another large shipment of narcotics. On March 25, the border guards detected three armed violators of border, moving from Afghanistan to RT. When the guards tried to stop them they opened fire and tried to escape to reed growth. The patrol found, in the area of clash, 32 kg of heroin, two Kalashnikov machine guns, and eight clips of ammunition. In Tajik territory, accomplices to the contrabandists were waiting. At the sound of shooting, they escaped in a white Lada car. The confiscated narcotics worth about one million USD were destroyed on the same day.

Members of the gang will face the court
Newspaper Asia-Plus No. 10 reported that Prosecutor General of RT completed investigation of a case against Sherali Saidov and Saivali Faizaliyev. They are accused of committing especially grave crimes. Preliminary investigation showed that in December of 1996 the two persons formed an armed gang, which robbed, with use of firearms, the population of Bokhtar and Vakhsh districts and the city of Kurgon-Teppa. The materials were transferred to court.
Penalty for the crimes: Newspaper Asia-Plus informed that leader of a gang Hakimbek Hamidov, 22 was sentenced to death. The gang, led by Hamidov, committed 24 armed robberies in Hissor, Leninski, Yavan, Tursunzoda districts and in Dushanbe. The gang killed several people. The total amount of theft committed by the gang is TR42 million and 4.5 million Russian Rubles. Other members of the gang were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.