S/PV.3739 Security Council

I should like to inform the 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.

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 Security Council have before them the progress report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan, document S/1997/56. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following documents: S/1996/1065, letter dated 23 December 1996 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine concerning the situation in Tajikistan; S/1996/1070, letter dated 24 December 1996 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the texts of the Agreement between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition on the results of the meeting held in Moscow on 23 December 1996, and of the Protocol on the basic functions and powers of the Commission on National Reconciliation; S/1996/1071, letter dated 24 December 1996 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 progress report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan of 21 January 1997 (S/1997/56), submitted pursuant to paragraph 6 of Security Council resolution 1089 (1996) of 13 December 1996. “The Security Council welcomes the signing in Moscow on 23 December 1996 by the President of Tajikistan and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition of the Agreement (S/1996/1070, annex I), including the Protocol on the Commission on National Reconciliation (S/1996/1070, annex II), and notes the progress made in the inter-Tajik talks in Tehran, in particular the signing of the Protocol on refugees (S/1997/56, annex III). It believes that these agreements, provided they are carried out as written, represent a qualitative change for the better and give a new impetus to efforts aimed at achieving national reconciliation. The Council urges the parties to honour and implement consistently and in good faith the agreements already reached, in particular in the course of negotiating future agreements. It also urges them to make further substantive progress at the next rounds of the inter-Tajik talks. “The Security Council notes with satisfaction that the ceasefire has been generally observed by the parties since December 1996 and calls on them to maintain it scrupulously for the whole duration of “The Security Council commends the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with him in continuing the inter-Tajik talks. The Security Council also commends the efforts of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) in fulfilling its mandate. “The Security Council calls upon the parties to ensure the safety and the freedom of movement of the personnel of the United Nations, the collective Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other international personnel in Tajikistan. “The Security Council strongly condemns the attacks on and kidnapping of international personnel, in particular UNMOT, UNHCR and ICRC, and others, and demands the immediate release of all those taken hostage. It stresses the inadmissibility of kidnapping and any other mistreatment of United Nations personnel and supports the efforts of the Secretary- General to ensure that the essential security requirements of UNMOT are met. “In this context the Security Council expresses satisfaction at the efforts by and cooperation between UNMOT, the Russian Federation and the parties to resolve the hostage crisis. “The Security Council considers it necessary for the United Nations to continue vigorous support for “The Security Council expresses deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and calls for continuing emergency relief, including assistance for the return of refugees, in the context of the implementation of the Protocol on refugees, and support to Tajikistan for rehabilitation, aimed at mitigation of the consequences of the war and reconstruction of its economy.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/6. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.