SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF UNMOT PROVIDED TAJIK PARTIES CONTINUE CEASE-FIRE, RECONCILIATION EFFORTS

Press Release
SC/6142

SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF UNMOT PROVIDED TAJIK PARTIES CONTINUE CEASE-FIRE, RECONCILIATION EFFORTS

Resolution 1030 (1995) Expresses Regret at Slow Progress Toward Political Solution, Emphasizes Primary Responsibility of Parties

The Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) until 15 June 1996. That six-month extension was predicated on the continuation in force of the 17 September 1994 cease-fire agreement, and on the continued commitment of both Tajik parties to an effective cease-fire, to national reconciliation, and to the promotion of democracy.

The Council took that action by its unanimous adoption of resolution 1030 (1995), in which it encouraged the continuation of direct political dialogue between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leader of the Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan.

The Council emphasized that the primary responsibility for resolving their differences rests with the Tajik parties themselves, and that the international assistance provided by today's resolution must be linked to the process of national reconciliation and the promotion of democracy.

It expressed regret at the slow pace of progress towards a political solution to the conflict in Tajikistan, and emphasized the need for the Tajik parties to take the opportunity of the continual round of talks in Ashgabat to reach a general agreement restoring peace and national accord in Tajikistan, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed on 17 August 1995 ("the Teheran agreement").

The Council further emphasized the "absolute necessity" for the Tajik parties to comply fully with all the obligations they have assumed, and in particular to observe strictly the agreement of 17 September 1994. It stressed the urgency of the cessation of all hostile acts on the Tajik-Afghan border, and requested the Secretary-General to accelerate the deployment of a small number of UNMOT personnel in northern Afghanistan. It encouraged the relevant Afghan authorities to facilitate arrangements permitting establishment of an additional liaison post at Taloqan in northern Afghanistan.

Expressing appreciation at the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation that Russian border forces and Russian military personnel of the Collective Peace-Keeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) do not violate the agreements between the Tajik parties in the performance of their duties, the Council underlined the need for continued close cooperation between UNMOT and the parties to the conflict, as well as its continued close liaison with the CIS peace-keeping forces and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Tajikistan. It welcomed the successful resettlement of the vast majority of internally displaced persons and refugees in Tajikistan, and requested the Secretary-General to report to members every three months on progress towards a settlement of the conflict and on UNMOT's operations.

The meeting, which was called to order at 1:16 p.m., was adjourned at 1:19 p.m.

The full text of the resolution, to be released as Council resolution 1030, reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its previous resolutions and the statements of its President, in particular, the statement of its President of 6 November 1995 (S/PRST/1995/54),

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 8 December 1995 (S/1995/1024),

"Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Tajikistan and to the inviolability of its borders,

"Welcoming the beginning of the continual round of talks between the Government of Tajikistan and the Tajik opposition in Ashgabat,

"Commending the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy as well as of the countries and regional organizations acting as observers at the inter-Tajik talks,

"Emphasizing that the primary responsibility rests with the Tajik parties themselves in resolving their differences, and that the international assistance provided by this resolution must be linked to the process of national reconciliation and the promotion of democracy,

"Recalling the commitments made by the Tajik parties to resolve the conflict and to achieve national reconciliation in the country exclusively through peaceful, political means on the basis of mutual concessions and

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compromises and stressing the inadmissibility of any hostile acts on the Tajik-Afghan border,

"Recalling the joint appeal by the Presidents of the Republic of Kazakstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan of 10 February 1995 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/1995/136), the statements of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of these countries of 24 August and 30 September 1993, of 13 October 1994, of 26 January and 20 April 1995 addressed to the Secretary- General (S/26357, S/26610, S/1994/1178, S/1995/126 and S/1995/336),

"Taking note with appreciation of the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation of 26 April 1995 that the Russian border forces and the Russian military personnel of the Collective Peace- keeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) stationed in Tajikistan, respecting and recognizing the agreements between the Tajik parties, do not violate them in the performance of their duties,

"Expressing its satisfaction over the close contact of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) with the parties to the conflict, as well as over its liaison with the CIS Collective Peace-keeping Forces, with the border forces and with the Mission of the Organization of Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Tajikistan,

"1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 8 December 1995;

"2. Decides to extend the mandate of UNMOT until 15 June 1996 subject to the proviso that the Teheran Agreement of 17 September 1994 (S/1994/1102, Annex I) remains in force and the parties continue to be committed to an effective cease-fire, to national reconciliation and to the promotion of democracy and further decides that the mandate will remain in effect unless the Secretary-General reports that these conditions have not been met;

"3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue through the good offices of his Special Envoy and with the assistance of the countries and regional organizations acting as observers at the inter-Tajik talks, efforts to speed up the progress towards the establishment of a durable peace and national accord in Tajikistan;

"4. Requests also the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the progress towards a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict and on the operations of UNMOT;

"5. Reiterates its call upon the parties to cooperate fully with UNMOT, and to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel;

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"6. Regrets the slow rate of progress towards a political solution to the conflict in Tajikistan and emphasizes the need for the Tajik parties to take the opportunity of the continual round of talks in Ashgabat to reach a general agreement which will restore peace and national accord in their country in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on the Fundamental Principles, signed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leader of the Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan on 17 August 1995 (S/1995/720, Annex);

"7. Calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary- General's Special Envoy in order to achieve a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict through the inter-Tajik dialogue;

"8. Calls also on the parties to implement without delay all the confidence-building measures to which they committed themselves during the fourth round of the inter-Tajik talks;

"9. Encourages the continuation of direct political dialogue between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leader of the Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan;

"10. Emphasizes the absolute necessity for the parties to comply fully with all the obligations they have assumed and urges them, in particular, to observe strictly the Agreement of 17 September 1994 and to agree to its substantial extension;

"11. Stresses the urgency of the cessation of all hostile acts on the Tajik-Afghan border and calls upon all States and others concerned to discourage any activities that could complicate or hinder the peace process in Tajikistan;

"12. Encourages the relevant Afghan authorities to facilitate the arrangements that will permit the establishment of a liaison post at Taloqan in northern Afghanistan;

"13. Underlines the need to further close cooperation between UNMOT and the parties to the conflict, as well as its close liaison with the CIS Collective Peace-keeping Forces, with the border forces and with the OSCE Mission in Tajikistan;

"14. Welcomes the successful resettlement of the vast majority of internally displaced persons and refugees and the role played by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in this effort and commends the activities of other agencies and organizations assisting the civilian population;

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"15. Welcomes the contributions to the voluntary fund established by the Secretary-General in accordance with its resolution 968 (1995), reiterates its encouragement to other States to contribute thereto and also welcomes the voluntary contribution made to UNMOT;

"16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

Secretary-General's Report

In its consideration of the situation in Tajikistan, the Council has before it the quarterly report of the Secretary-General (document S/1995/1024). The report surveys progress towards national reconciliation, UNMOT's operations, and UNMOT's liaison with the CIS collective peace-keeping forces, with the forces on the Tajik-Afghan border, and with the OSCE. The report concludes with the Secretary-General's proposal that the Council extend UNMOT's mandate (scheduled to expire on 18 December 1995) for a further six months.

Reviewing the state of the negotiating process in Tajikistan, the Secretary-General reports that the continuous round of inter-Tajik talks opened in Ashkhabad on 30 November. At the first working plenary session on 7 December, both Tajik sides made statements confirming their commitment to the cease-fire and to efforts to find viable solutions to the problems listed in the protocol (document S/1995/720, annex) signed on 17 August by the President of Tajikistan and the leader of the opposition. That protocol (the "Teheran agreement") set out fundamental principles for establishing peace and national accord in Tajikistan.

However, the report states that there continue to be uncertainties about the venue of the talks following their opening in Ashkhabad. The Secretary- General expresses concern that one year has passed since the establishment of UNMOT and that progress towards resolution of the conflict remains so slow.

Equally worrying, continues the report, is the deterioration of the situation on the ground. The delay in resuming negotiations between the Government and the Tajik opposition has been accompanied by an increase in hostilities in Gorny Badakshan and in the Garm and Tavildara regions. Among serious incidents listed are a military confrontation between Tajik Army brigades in which a United Nations military observer was shot and killed.

There was also an outbreak of hostilities in mid-October between Government forces and local fighters, reinforced by opposition fighters redeployed from Gorny Badakshan (in that incident 54 Government soldiers were taken prisoner by the opposition, although 17 of them had subsequently been released to their families). Another such incident occurred on 10 October at Shipad, where nine soldiers of the Russian border force were killed.

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The report notes numerous complaints by the opposition of abductions, arrests, unlawful detention, long and illegal imprisonments, denial of the right to defence or communication, and murder. The Government submitted 33 reports of murder, rape, harassment, abuse, beatings, hostage-taking and threats.

The number of such complaints, says the report, indicates the extent to which provisions of the Teheran agreement pertaining to the security and rights of individuals remain unfulfilled. One problem is that due to contradictions between the Teheran agreement and the Tajik penal code, the authorities tend to treat even non-violent opposition as a crime to be suppressed -- which the opposition regards as a violation of the Teheran agreement, prompting its members to meet force with force.

The Secretary-General notes that while the vast majority of displaced persons and refugees have been satisfactorily settled, it is a cause for regret that delays persist in implementation of other confidence-building measures agreed upon at the fourth round of inter-Tajik talks at Almaty. As noted, there had also been an increase in military activities and incidents and a general rise of tension on the ground. The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to cooperate to stem this tide.

Despite these problems, the Secretary-General concludes, he is encouraged that the parties have now resumed negotiations on the basis of the August agreement. The Teheran agreement will serve as an important framework for the ongoing negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement.

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