S/PV.3266 Security Council

I should like to inform the Security Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Tajikistan in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Kayumov (Tajikistan) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document $/26311, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan, I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following other documents: $/26241, letter dated 4 August 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General; and 8/26290, letter dated 10 August 1993 from the representatives of the Permanent Missions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the (The President) Russian Federation and Tajikistan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the continuing violence and armed conflict in Tajikistan, at the escalating crisis along the Tajik-Afghan border, and at the risk of the conflict threatening the peace and stability of Central Asia and beyond. "The Council stresses the urgent need for the cessation of all hostile actions on the Tajik-Afghan border. It urges the Government of Tajikistan and all opposition groups to accept as soon as possible the need for an overall political solution and to participate in a negotiating process for the early establishment of a cease-fire and eventual national reconciliation with the widest possible participation of all political groups and all the regions of the country. The Council looks to the Government of Tajikistan and all opposition groups to observe basic political rights of all groups in Tajikistan, in order to promote a lasting reconciliation and to achieve full compliance with the principles to which Tajikistan is committed as a participating State in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. “The Council reaffirms the necessity to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tajikistan and all other countries of the region and the inviolability of their borders. "The Council welcomes efforts by regional parties aimed at stabilizing the situation. In particular, the Council welcomes the 7 August 1993 Moscow summit of heads of State and Government from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the (The President) Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, at the initiative of the Russian Federation, and the 6-7 July 1993 Istanbul summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and their decisions aimed at peaceful solutions to the problems on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Furthermore, it welcomes the efforts of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The Council recognizes the actions of the Governments of Afghanistan and Tajikistan who created new negotiating bodies aimed at reducing tension along their common border. "The Council draws attention to the critical humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and the Tajik refugee camps in northern Afghanistan and the need for additional humanitarian assistance. Stabilizing the situation along the Tajik-Afghan border should assist UNHCR in performing its mission. The Council calls upon the Government of Tajikistan to continue to assist in the return and reintegration of all Tajiks who fled this civil war and who wish to return to their homes. "fhe Council expresses appreciation of the Secretary-General's report of 16 August 1993 (S/26311) and welcomes the Secretary-General’s proposals to extend the mandate of his Special Envoy until 31 October 1993 and to extend the tenure of United Nations officials currently in Tajikistan for a period of three months. In light of the unstable situation on the Tajik-Afghan border, the Council welcomes the Secretary-General's decision to dispatch his Special Envoy to Afghanistan and other countries in the region. The Council also welcomes the receptivity of the Secretary-General to possible requests from the parties for United Nations assistance in their efforts already under way and requests that he and his Special Envoy maintain close contact with the parties. “The Council looks forward to receiving periodic reports from the Secretary-General on his Special Envoy's mission and the Secretary-General's recommendations for ways the United Nations may assist in resolving the situation and for defining more clearly the possible ambit of United Nations involvement. "The Security Council will remain seized of the matter." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/26341. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 7.05 p.m.