S/PV.3696 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of September, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Tono Eitel, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of August 1996. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Eitel for the great diplomatic skill and unfailing courtesy with which he conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan, document S/1996/754. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following other documents: S/1996/638, letter dated 8 August 1996 from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General; and S/1996/640, letter dated 9 August 1996 from the Permanent Representative of 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 has considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan of 13 September 1996 (S/1996/754). “The Security Council is also concerned about the violations of the Tehran cease-fire agreement of 17 September 1994 (S/1994/1102, annex I) and about the failure of both parties to implement the Ashgabat agreements. It is, in particular, concerned about the ongoing fighting in the Tavildara region and the seizure of the towns of Jirgatal and Tajikabad by the opposition. The Council demands the immediate cessation of all hostilities and acts of violence. “The Security Council recalls the commitments made by the Government of Tajikistan and by the leadership of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) to resolve the conflict and to achieve national reconciliation through peaceful means. It regrets that these commitments have not so far been honoured. “The Security Council commends the efforts of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) and urgently calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with UNMOT and to ensure the safety of the personnel of the United Nations and other international organizations and also calls on them to lift all restrictions on the freedom of movement of UNMOT personnel. In this connection it is concerned about the large-scale use of landmines due to the threat it creates for the population and UNMOT personnel. “The Security Council welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to arrange for an inter- agency mission to Tajikistan to determine how to respond most effectively to the humanitarian situation. “The Security Council welcomes the renewed work of the Joint Commission and the results of their efforts in reducing tensions in the Garm region and in the Karategin valley. “The Security Council emphasizes that the primary responsibility rests with the Tajik parties themselves in resolving their differences. It recalls “The Security Council commends the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with him in resuming the inter-Tajik talks. The Council reiterates the importance of the continuation of direct political dialogue between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leader of the UTO for the peace This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1996/38. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.