SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SUPPORT OF UZBEKISTAN FOR PEACE PROCESS IN TAJIKISTAN, INCLUDING TRANSIT FOR REFUGEES RETURNING HOME
Press Release
SG/SM/6303
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SUPPORT OF UZBEKISTAN FOR PEACE PROCESS IN TAJIKISTAN, INCLUDING TRANSIT FOR REFUGEES RETURNING HOME
19970819 This statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General welcomes and appreciates the strong support by President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan for the peace process in Tajikistan. The Secretary-General expects that Uzbekistan will accede to the Protocol on International Guarantees and participate in the Contact Group established under the Protocol.
The Secretary-General also thanks President Karimov for his decision to permit transit through Uzbekistan for Tajik refugees in Afghanistan who are returning home, with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in accordance with the agreements reached between the two Tajik parties in the Protocol on Refugees.
President Karimov made these undertakings to Ambassador William Richardson, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, who visited Tashkent. The Secretary-General is grateful to Ambassador Richardson for his assistance in this matter.
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