S/PV.4064 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 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/1999/1127. Members of the Council also have before them document S/1999/1158, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1999/1159, which contains the text of a letter dated 11 November 1999 from Tajikistan, transmitting the text of the Protocol on Political Guarantees During the Preparation for and Holding of the Elections to the Majlis-i Oli (the Parliament) of Tajikistan. I give the floor to the representative of Tajikistan.

Today's meeting of the Security Council is taking place at a time of The presidential elections convincingly demonstrated that the main political forces in our country do indeed desire to find a constructive solution to their differences in the interests of moving the peace process forward on the basis of the implementation of the General Agreement. The elections were exceptionally important, not least because they were the first to be held in Tajikistan under the new conditions of political pluralism. The Islamic Revival Party, a political and religious opposition party, participated in the election campaign after having resumed its legal activities. As the Council knows, an absolute majority of voters throughout the country voted in favour of the current President of the Republic of Tajikistan. Despite the existing political, philosophical and religious differences in Tajik society, as a whole it thereby voiced its strong support for Emomali Rakhmonov and the policy that he has adopted for moving forward and strengthening the process of peace and national reconciliation. The presidential elections were an important step forward towards establishing lasting peace and stability and reliable conditions for further democratic development in Tajikistan. The successful implementation of these political measures and the further progress in implementing the General Agreement were helped to a large extent by the continuing generous support provided by the guarantor States, the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organizations directly involved in carrying out the work of strengthening peace in Tajikistan. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tajikistan, Mr. Ivo Petrov, and to all the personnel of UNMOT, who in close cooperation with members of the Contact Group are continuing actively to help in the practical implementation of the General Agreement. We view the Security Council's intention to The full and active support of the United Nations will be decisive as Tajik society faces another very important political issue: the holding of the first parliamentary elections under the new conditions. The Commission on National Reconciliation is already drafting a law on elections to the Majlis-i Oli, the Parliament of our republic. The draft law is to be submitted to the President by 20 November. This important work is being done with assistance from the joint OSCE/United Nations assessment mission, which will soon visit Tajikistan. We are pleased to note that by the draft resolution, the Security Council would welcome the signing on 5 November 1999, at Dushanbe, by the President of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali S. Rakhmonov, and by the Chairman of the Commission on National Reconciliation, Mr. Abdullo Nuri, of the Protocol on political guarantees for the preparation and conduct of the parliamentary elections. We are glad that members of the Council view this as a necessary basis for the careful preparation of those elections, which will meet international standards. The Government of Tajikistan is sincerely resolved to create all conditions necessary for ensuring that the forthcoming elections to the two-chamber Parliament will constitute a new milestone in our progress towards strengthening the democratic basis for the viability of the whole of Tajik society, so that we can enter the twenty-first century in step with the rest of the international community. Tajikistan has high hopes that the international community will increase its efforts to support democratic change in our country, inter alia, by responding with due generosity to the consolidated inter-agency appeal for 2000. We view comprehensive international support as an important, indeed vital, factor for ensuring that the peace process in our country is irreversible.

It is my understanding that the Security Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution (S/1999/1158) before it. If I hear no objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1274 (1999). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.