SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS PEACEFUL PROGRESS IN TAJIKISTAN, URGES INVOLVEMENT OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IN SOLVING PROBLEMS

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS PEACEFUL PROGRESS IN TAJIKISTAN, URGES

INVOLVEMENT OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IN SOLVING PROBLEMS

This is the text of a statement today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Parliament of Tajikistan in the capital of Dushanbe:

On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my greetings to the Parliament, the Government and the people of Tajikistan.  It is a great pleasure for me to visit your country at last, and I want to thank you for the warmth and hospitality you have shown me.

Tajikistan and the United Nations have a long record of close and fruitful cooperation, one that both sides can rightly be proud of.  The foundation of our partnership was laid during the most tragic chapter of Tajikistan's history -- the civil war, in which more than 50,000 people lost their lives, many more were forced to leave their homes, and the country’s economy and social cohesion were devastated.

However, Tajikistan was not left alone in its darkest hour.  The international community played a key part in helping the people of Tajikistan end the war.  Tajikistan's neighbours and other affected countries -- as well as the parties to the conflict -- realized from the beginning that the United Nations should play an important role.  We were able to work in partnership with you in moving the peace process forward, preventing the conflict from spreading throughout the region, and providing humanitarian aid for the many suffering civilians and refugees.

During the long and difficult years of the civil war, the United Nations deployed observers and peacekeepers.  Seven United Nations staff members -- among them two Tajik nationals -- gave their lives in the cause of peace.

The commitment of the United Nations to Tajikistan did not end with the signing and implementation of the Peace Agreement.  As your country recovers and seeks to meet the challenges of democratization and development, it will continue to need the support of the international community -- and we stand ready to provide it.  One manifestation of our support for Tajikistan is the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building (UNTOP), which has worked closely with the Government in the past two years to address a range of post-conflict issues.

Nothing is more important for the achievement of long-term stability than restructuring the economy and showing people ways out of poverty.  Here, the United Nations family, many of whose agencies are present and actively working on

development and humanitarian issues throughout the country, and the Bretton Woods institutions are uniquely positioned to help Tajikistan find the resources, and devise the strategies, that will enable all its citizens to reach prosperity.

It is a privilege for me to see for myself the great progress your country is making towards peace, stability and democracy.  Political pluralism is beginning to take root in Tajikistan today, and you have a fledging but vital civil society.  I urge you to continue your efforts in each of these vital areas.  Representatives of political parties are working together in a responsible and productive way, united by love for their country and a common language of peace.  Tajikistan has managed to build relationships with its neighbours and countries around the world, and has preserved its stability in the midst of recent crises in this complex part of the world.

Indeed, it is my strong belief that Tajikistan’s road towards peace and stability can serve as an example for its neighbour Afghanistan.  Until recently, the threat of terrorist groups and of spreading instability and violence emanated from that country.  Now that these dangers are significantly reduced, Tajikistan is providing valuable assistance to the consolidation of peace in Afghanistan.  I would like to express my appreciation for your efforts to help the Afghan people in their quest for peace, and I hope you will continue to work with the new Afghan Government, and with your other neighbours, to achieve greater stability and prosperity in the whole region.

In the context of the continuing war on terrorism, countries all over the world are trying to reconcile the protection of individual rights with the security of their societies.  This debate is particularly relevant to Tajikistan, which has experienced a disastrous civil war on its own territory and in neighbouring Afghanistan, and knows the dangers of lawlessness.

You are now engaged in establishing the rule of law in all aspects of your society, and it is vital that you make a success of it.  Popular trust in the judiciary and the fairness of the authorities is the best safeguard against extremism and renewed violence.  Without a functioning judicial system, foreign and domestic investments will remain elusive.  The United Nations is, therefore, ready and eager to assist you in strengthening the rule of law.

For any society to deal with such fundamental questions as the rule of law and political pluralism, it has to pay heed to the voices of all of its members, and it has to include all of them in formulating a solution.  This holds particularly true for women of Tajikistan, who ensured the survival of their families during the civil war, and who today bear the brunt of the ensuing difficulties.  Unless the contribution of women to the well-being of the country is recognized, and their opinions and initiatives taken into account, Tajikistan will find it difficult, if not impossible, to leave its current problems behind.

Given Tajikistan's record of overcoming division and formidable challenges, I am confident that its people and its leaders will make forward-looking and constructive decisions.  Let me assure you of our commitment to continue helping your country as it pursues its goals of security, economic recovery, and a better life for all its citizens.