ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN TAJIKISTAN, 21-22 OCTOBER

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, early in the afternoon of Monday, 21 October.  He was greeted at the airport by Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov.  The waiting press asked the Secretary-General about Iraq, and he replied:  “I expect that probably some time this week, or not long thereafter, there will be a resolution approved unanimously by the [Security] Council.  And of course the resolution will demand that Iraq complies with United Nations resolutions and I hope Iraq will listen to this demand from the Council.”

In mid-afternoon, the Secretary-General met with President Emomali Rakhmonov, who was accompanied by the Foreign Minister.  Afterwards, he told the press that he and the President had discussed “the fight against terrorism, the question of economic and social development, alleviation of poverty, the need to strengthen institutions and good governance”.  He also said their talks had touched on Afghanistan, regional cooperation on water management and energy, and facilitation of cross-border movement.

He then travelled to the United Nations office, where he reviewed United Nations programme activity in Tajikistan with United Nations agency heads.  He sensed a strong spirit of cooperation among the many United Nations actors in the country.  He addressed the staff, urging them “to work as a team”, then mingled with them for informal chats.

He returned to the Presidential Guest House, where he sat down with a half-dozen leaders of Parliament, representing all parties in the Government.  “The people look to you to fulfil their dreams”, he told them.  “If you succeed, future generations will be in your debt.”

All 63 members of Parliament then gathered to hear the Secretary-General speak.  The President introduced him with extensive remarks.  The Secretary-General then said, “It is a privilege for me to see for myself the great progress your country is making toward peace, stability and democracy.”

He said that it was his strong belief that Tajikistan could serve as an example to its neighbour Afghanistan, and he expressed his appreciation for the help it provided to Afghanistan in its effort to consolidate peace.

He urged Tajikistan to continue to work for the establishment of the rule of law.  “Popular trust in the judiciary,” he said, “and the fairness of the authorities is the best safeguard against extremism and renewed violence.”

The Secretary-General reminded members of Parliament that for society to deal with fundamental questions such as the rule of law and political pluralism, it had to pay heed to the voices of all of its members, and to include all of them in formulating solutions.  “This holds particularly true for the women of Tajikistan”, he said.  “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.”  (See Press Release SG/SM/8451).

In the evening, President Rakhmonov hosted a dinner in honour of the Secretary-General and his wife Nane.

In a separate programme, Mrs. Nane Annan visited a training and support centre for Afghan refugees in Dushanbe.  The centre, supported by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), provides education for adults and children -- skills training, including computer and languages, and income generation through handicrafts -- as well as legal assistance and trauma counselling. 

Mrs. Annan also visited an orphanage which is supported by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and which provides schooling and activities such as pottery, embroidery and football.

On Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General concluded his visit to Tajikistan by visiting the nation’s Drug Control Agency, set up in the year 2000 with the assistance of the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCCP).  Since then, it has seized some 750 kilograms of heroin, mostly of Afghan origin, the fourth largest seizure rate worldwide.

He first toured the facility’s laboratories, where the heroin is analysed for purity, to help determine its origin.  He then went into the vault, where seized heroin is stored until it can be destroyed.  Finally, he saw a special incinerator behind the building where heroin was being burned.  He also planted a tree commemorating his visit.

He told the press gathered there that this Agency is a good example of what the United Nations Drug Programme was doing around the world -- working with the Government, sharing information to disrupt the work of criminals “who are determined to get the drugs onto our streets”.

“We all have to be vigilant”, he said, “to fight drug trafficking to protect our children.”

On the way to the airport, he stopped briefly at the National Museum to view a 12-metre-long reclining Buddha, carved from sandstone in the second century B.C.  On leaving the museum, he crossed the street to chat with curious onlookers.

He then went to the airport, where a long line of girls aged nine to10, dressed in traditional costumes, was waiting to greet him.  He stopped to talk to them, and they quickly gathered around him.  He and Mrs. Annan spoke with them through an interpreter for several minutes.

He then turned to the waiting press, who asked him for his impression of the country.  He replied that he was pleased to see that peace is taking hold in Tajikistan and that “the Government and people now want to focus on the essential issue of economics and social development.”

Mrs. Annan then commented on the chat she and the Secretary-General had just had with the girls.  “He was telling them that any nation that has not used50 per cent of its human resources stands to lose out,” she said, “like an eagle cannot fly with only one wing.”

They then flew to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.