From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Aug 28 2000 - 11:28:05 EDT
NO ARMED SUPPORTERS OF ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF UZBEKISTAN IN TAJIKISTAN -
MINISTER
DUSHANBE. Aug 28 (Interfax) - There are no armed followers, bases
or material-supply centers belonging to the Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan in Tajikistan, Tajik Minister for Emergencies Mirzo Ziyeyev
said at a news conference in Dushanbe on Monday.
Ziyeyev said that the news conference had been promoted by "the
hullabaloo raised by some of the mass media around me and related to
tension in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan."
He described as "deliberate lies" reports made by some Russian
newspapers that claimed he is related to Dzhumaboi Khodzhiyev (Dzhuma
Namangani is the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) and
described him as "the main patron of rebels in Tajikistan."
"These articles are ordered by people who dislike the stability in
Tajikistan and the development of neighborly relations with Uzbekistan,"
Ziyeyev said.
"Everything is quiet [in the Karategin valley, 150-200 kilometers
east of Dushanbe, the Tavildara district included], and all residents,
among them former members of the armed opposition, are doing peaceful
work," Ziyeyev said.
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