Tajikistan, 1997

I wish at the outset to congratulate you, Mr. Udovenko, on

your election to the important post of President of the

General Assembly, and to wish you success in guiding the

work of a forum that is so important for the entire

international community.

Speaking from this rostrum three years ago, I stressed

that, in spite of the armed confrontation that was then on

the increase in my country, the leadership of Tajikistan had

opted for a consistent policy of political dialogue as the

only means of achieving peace and national reconciliation.

Today the results of that policy can be seen. With

active international support, the negotiation process led to

historic decisions being taken by the Tajik people, laying

the groundwork for successful progress towards peace and

national reconciliation.

I should like to take this opportunity to express

sincere gratitude to the members of the General

Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretary-General,

Mr. Kofi Annan, and his Special Representative in

Tajikistan, Mr. Gerd Merrem, for the constant and close

attention that they have paid to achieving a settlement in

Tajikistan, and, indeed, to the problems of Tajikistan in

general. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Russian

Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran and other States,

as well as international and regional organizations, that

acted as observers at the inter-Tajik talks and made a

significant contribution to the very difficult negotiation

process. We are deeply grateful to all friendly countries,

to international organizations and primarily to members of

the United Nations system that have assisted and continue

to provide assistance in the establishment of a lasting

peace and accord in Tajikistan.

We are fully determined to strive consistently and

unwaveringly for the full implementation of the General

Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National

Accord in Tajikistan and for the achievement of national

accord. Here we count on growing support from the

United Nations and its observer missions, acting in close

cooperation with the Peacekeeping Forces of the

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Without

such cooperation, it would be extremely difficult to

implement the military component of the inter-Tajik

agreements or to achieve a final solution to the problem of

refugees.

Another important aspect of United Nations assistance

to the peace process in Tajikistan is the development and

implementation of a comprehensive strategy on

humanitarian aid and post-conflict reconstruction of our

economy. An excellent framework for this effort is

provided by General Assembly resolution 51/30 J adopted

on 25 April 1997 on emergency international humanitarian

assistance for lasting peace and reconciliation in Tajikistan.

We hope that in the course of this session this useful

initiative will be continued and that an updated resolution

will be adopted taking fully into account the specifics of the

transition period and the humanitarian needs of the people

of Tajikistan.

Among the multitude of conflicts and crisis situations

which unfortunately entered a new phase during the period

following the cold war, we are particularly concerned about

the situation in the neighbouring Islamic State of

Afghanistan. Together with our Central Asian partners in

the CIS and with Russia, we have repeatedly expressed our

profound concern over the destabilizing impact of the

situation in Afghanistan on the entire region, as well as on

the situation beyond the region.

On the initiative of the Almaty Five, about a year ago

the Security Council became more actively involved in

Afghan problems. Along with resolutions adopted by the

General Assembly, Security Council decisions are the best

foundation for ending the fratricidal war that has been

going on for so many years there.

I have to say frankly that the fact that the Afghan

problem remains unsettled may undermine the fragile peace

in Tajikistan. We hope that, taking into account the agreed

position of the “Big Eight” Summit participants in Denver,

and using their experience of cooperation to solve conflicts

in the Balkans and other hot spots in the world, Russia and

the United States, cooperating with other States concerned

and supporting United Nations involvement, will play a

decisive part in an Afghan settlement in the nearest possible

future.

I will be honest with the Assembly: it is in

Tajikistan’s vital interests that peace be established in

Afghanistan for another reason — it would help to reduce

substantially the flow of arms and drugs across the Tajik-

Afghan border, and it would reduce the proliferation of

terrorism and waves of extremism which are destabilizing

the entire region.

I would like to comment now on the issue of reform

of our Organization. We attribute great importance to the

United Nations as a key instrument for maintaining

international peace and security. The idea of adjusting the

United Nations to today’s realities is certainly important

and necessary. In today’s transitional conditions, the

stabilizing role of the United Nations must grow steadily.

We believe it is important to approach United

Nations reform in a pragmatic way, concentrating on the

most pressing issues, and maintaining a reasonable

balance between innovation and strengthening

mechanisms that have proved their effectiveness.

As a State that has experienced first-hand all the

hardships of civil war and has travelled the difficult road

towards national reconciliation with active support and

assistance from the United Nations, Tajikistan is

convinced of the need to preserve strong and efficient

peacemaking mechanisms. First and foremost, this relates

to the work of the Security Council, which has to

maintain timeliness and effectiveness. We believe that

Security Council representation would be enhanced if its

membership were expanded not only to candidates from

industrialized States, such as Germany and Japan, but also

to representatives from developing countries on a

rotational basis.

On administrative and budget issues, we consider it

important to ensure zero actual and, if possible, zero

nominal growth of the United Nations budget. We must

utilize material and human resources more efficiently, and

we must strengthen mechanisms monitoring the work of

the United Nations apparatus. We must also count on the

understanding of the international community in respect

of temporary financial difficulties facing some developing

States and countries emerging from conflicts.

We consider it right that the strategy for the twenty-

first century should be sustainable development, ensuring

conservation of the environment and natural resources.

Although we were not entirely satisfied with the results of

the recent nineteenth special session of the General

Assembly, held last summer, it is important that that

session outlined ways of expediting progress in key areas

of sustainable development, as defined in Agenda 21.

As a country that has suffered from civil war and is

in transition to market relationships, Tajikistan expects the

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United Nations to pay closer attention and participate more

efficiently in ensuring sustainable development in countries

with transitional economies, including introducing measures

to neutralize the negative social consequences of such

transitions. We believe that the United Nations can and

must maintain its unique role in providing international

support for the integration of States in transition into global

economic and trade systems and for their involvement in

the existing and emerging regulatory institutions and

mechanisms. These demands were reflected in the Agenda

for Development, which was adopted by the General

Assembly in June this year.

The absence of peaceful conditions in Tajikistan has

prevented it from moving towards sustainable development

in any significant way, and consequently it has not been

able fully to implement the recommendations of Agenda 21.

Due to the civil confrontations that have swept the

country, the main efforts of the Government of Tajikistan

in recent years have been aimed at eradicating conflict,

establishing peace and tranquillity, and creating conditions

to integrate the population into active economic and

creative work.

The new prospects for peace provide us with an

opportunity to redouble our efforts and concentrate on

unsolved problems. The most important of these include the

rapid reconstruction of the social and economic

infrastructure that had been destroyed; the return of

refugees to their homes, together with their social and

psychological adjustment and reintegration into the new

conditions of life; the active involvement of citizens in

economic activity through the creation of jobs, which are

crucial; and, above all, the creation of conditions conducive

to the democratic development of Tajik society.

Today, an intensive transition to a socially oriented

market economy is under way in Tajikistan. Against the

background of an increasingly far-reaching peace process,

the Government of Tajikistan is carrying out economic

reforms that promise positive results in the foreseeable

future. The country’s natural wealth, water supply, energy

and intellectual resources are favourable to such a

development.

However, reality demands that we confront the

situation with honesty. We must admit that without

international support it would be extremely difficult for us

to carry out the reconstruction and creative tasks quickly.

In the first place, it is a question of donors continuing their

commendable efforts to extend humanitarian assistance to

our most vulnerable population groups, which have

suffered from the civil war. Economic reforms under way

in the country also need efficient and targeted support.

This would involve an additional flow of investment into

Tajikistan, the more active involvement of the country’s

export potential in international trade transactions, and our

gradual integration into international financial and trade

institutions. I should like to express my conviction that,

at this stage of its development, Tajikistan will not be left

alone to deal with its problems.

The goal set out in the Charter of the United

Nations,

“to save succeeding generations from the scourge of

war”,

has very special meaning for the people of Tajikistan,

who have experienced the bitter taste of fratricidal war.

Our experience has shown that the work of the United

Nations, based on the coordinated efforts of its Member

States, can achieve tangible results and resolve seemingly

irreconcilable differences, thereby enabling us to move

onto a peaceful, non-violent track.

We note the tireless efforts of the United Nations in

maintaining and strengthening international peace and

security on a practical level under new and constantly

changing conditions. We believe that useful momentum

for this work could be provided by convening, in 1999, a

third international peace conference, an initiative that is

enjoying growing support among members of the

international community. Greater in-depth discussion of

this issue on the threshold of the twenty-first century

would further promote mutual understanding and

cooperation in the world, taking account of the interests

of all on the basis of the equality of all nations.