The situation in Tajikistan, particularly on its border with Afghanistan, has remained unstable during the past year. My Special Envoy, Mr. Ramiro Píriz-Ballón, continues his efforts to mediate a political dialogue between the Government of Tajikistan and the opposition to achieve progress towards national reconciliation.
High-level inter-Tajik consultations, held at Teheran in September 1994, resulted in the signing of an Agreement on a Temporary Cease-fire and the Cessation of Other Hostile Acts on the Tajik-Afghan Border and within the Country. The two parties also agreed on important confidence-building measures, including the exchange of prisoners and prisoners of war. The parties also agreed to establish a joint commission consisting of representatives of the Government and the opposition. They requested the Security Council to assist the work of the Joint Commission by providing political good offices and dispatching United Nations military observers.
In my report to the Security Council dated 27 September 1994 (S/1994/1102), I recommended, as a provisional measure, the strengthening of the group of United Nations officials in Tajikistan with up to 15 military observers drawn from existing peace-keeping operations, pending a decision by the Council to establish a new United Nations observer mission in Tajikistan. The cease-fire came into effect on 20 October following the deployment of 15 military observers. A technical survey mission was immediately sent to the country to assess the modalities for establishing a future observer mission.
The third round of inter-Tajik talks took place at Islamabad from 20 October to 1 November. The parties succeeded in extending the Agreement for another three months, until 6 February 1995, and also signed the protocol on the Joint Commission to monitor the implementation of the 17 September cease-fire agreement. On 30 November, I submitted a report to the Security Council recommending a possible United Nations peace-keeping operation in that country (S/1994/1363). On 16 December, the Council, by its resolution 968 (1994), welcomed the extension of the cease-fire agreement by the Tajik parties and decided to establish the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) in accordance with the plan outlined in my report.
Despite the agreement reached in Islamabad to hold the fourth round of inter-Tajik talks in Moscow in December 1994, the negotiating process was at a stalemate. In order to revitalize it, my Special Envoy undertook consultations with the Government of Tajikistan, leaders of the opposition and certain Governments in the region in December. In January 1995, a United Nations team held consultations at Teheran with the Tajik opposition leaders and high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The fourth round of inter-Tajik talks remained blocked as a result of conditions put forward by the opposition and by the plans of the Government to hold parliamentary elections in February. However, at the end of January, President Emomali Rakhmonov and Mr. Akhbar Turajonzodah, of the Tajik opposition delegation, informed me of their decision to extend the cease-fire agreement until 6 March 1995. In a report dated 4 February (S/1995/105), I informed the Security Council that the Tajik parties had complied only in part with the provisions of Security Council resolution 968 (1994).
At the end of February, I asked Under-Secretary-General Aldo Ajello to hold consultations with the Tajik parties and some Governments in the region in order to reach agreement on the agenda, time and venue for the fourth round of inter-Tajik talks. He obtained the agreement of the parties to extend the cease-fire agreement until 26 April 1995 and made some progress in addressing the conditions stipulated by the opposition for the resumption of inter-Tajik talks.
My Special Envoy held new consultations with the Tajik parties and the Governments in the region, which resulted in high-level inter-Tajik consultations in Moscow from 19 to 26 April. The two sides agreed on the agenda and dates for the fourth round of inter-Tajik talks at Almaty, the extension of the cease-fire for another month and important additions to the cease-fire agreement and the protocol on the Joint Commission.
The fourth round of talks took place at Almaty from 22 May to 1 June. They followed the high-level consultations at Kabul from 17 to 19 May between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Abdullo Nuri, leader of the opposition Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan, under Afghan auspices, where it was decided to extend the cease-fire agreement for a further three months, until 26 August.
As I reported to the Security Council on 10 June (S/1995/472), at the Almaty talks the parties for the first time held an in-depth discussion of the fundamental institutional issues and the consolidation of the statehood of Tajikistan, as set forth in the first round of talks in Moscow in April 1994; however, they were unable to reach any decisions on those issues. The parties welcomed the decision of the Kabul summit meeting to extend the Teheran cease-fire agreement until 26 August and decided to implement a number of confidence-building measures by 20 July and to request the continuation of the good offices of my Special Envoy.
In its resolution 999 (1995), the Security Council welcomed these decisions, called for the achievement of substantive progress on the fundamental political and institutional issues, and sought the convening of a further round of talks. It encouraged the dialogue between the President of Tajikistan and the leader of the Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan, and urged the substantial extension of the cease-fire agreement. The Council also called for discussions with the Afghan authorities on the possible deployment of a number of United Nations personnel inside Afghanistan.
In accordance with this, I dispatched my Special Envoy on 31 July to hold consultations in the region with the Tajik parties and with some Governments in order to create the conditions for a second summit meeting between President Rakhmonov and Mr. Nuri. At that meeting, to be held as soon as possible, it is hoped to obtain agreement on a set of general principles for a comprehensive political solution to be negotiated during the next stage.
The small United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan has played an important role in containing the conflict. It has provided essential support to the Joint Commission set up by the parties as the main instrument for maintaining the cease-fire and it has been instrumental in containing local conflicts.
The establishment of UNMOT and the extension of its mandate last June for another six months were subject to the proviso that the Teheran cease-fire agreement of 17 September 1994 remain in force and the parties continue to be committed to an effective cease-fire, national reconciliation and the promotion of democracy. The Security Council thus underlined the primary responsibility of the parties themselves for composing their differences. It is to be hoped that they will use well the goodwill and support of interested Governments and the international community as a whole in order to make decisive progress towards that goal.
While improvements in the overall stability of conflict-affected areas of Tajikistan in 1994 led to the return of more than 90 per cent of former refugees and internally displaced persons and to substantial progress in their reintegration, the country continues to face critical difficulties in conditions of tremendous economic hardship, especially in the most affected communities of the Khatlon region in the south-west, Gorno-Badakshan in the east and parts of the Garm Valley. Emergency food aid is a major source of nutrition for many of the most vulnerable. Many health centres have been destroyed; functioning ones lack basic equipment and drugs are often unavailable. Schools and hospitals lack water and sanitation facilities and many schools are not operating, which threatens to erode the high levels of literacy of past decades. Shortages of fuel have severely affected the country's production capacity. Inadequate employment opportunities compound the existing deep clan and regional divisions.
During 1994, the humanitarian community endeavoured to address the most pressing needs. Over 60 per cent of funding requested in the Department of Humanitarian Affairs' 1994 consolidated inter-agency appeal for Tajikistan ($42.5 million) was pledged or contributed. Humanitarian assistance also included capacity- and confidence-building activities, targeting areas of return of former refugees and internally displaced people.
The last mission to the country led by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs took place in October 1994. The mission held extensive consultations with the United Nations and non-governmental organization community to prepare proposals for humanitarian activities in 1995. The subsequent consolidated inter-agency appeal for Tajikistan (1 January-31 December 1995) was launched on 6 December 1994 and officially presented to donors on 23 March 1995 at Geneva. The appeal seeks to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in-country (estimated at some $37.3 million) of some 600,000 people, who have been most affected by conflict, population movements and the deterioration of the economic, health and social infrastructures. By 31 March, $9.9 million, representing 53.4 per cent of funding requirements, had been contributed, as reported to the Department of Humanitarian Affairs by agencies making the appeal.
The current appeal aims to provide emergency food aid, as well as assistance in the health and education sectors. This assistance, provided in consultation with the humanitarian community, national and district authorities, targets the most vulnerable, including pensioners, invalids and widows with children, and returned and displaced people. Emphasis in the 1995 humanitarian programme is also on information management and capacity-building, with programmes aiming to assist in the training of health workers, community development, capacity- and confidence-building, and self-reliance activities. The appeal also covers a number of non-governmental organization initiatives in addition to United Nations agencies and programmes, and is the result of efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation among humanitarian partners in the field. While substantial humanitarian needs remain, support to Tajikistan will focus increasingly on rehabilitation and economic development. United Nations agencies and programmes are thus phasing down relief activities and promoting development-oriented projects.
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