Tajikistan, 2003

Exactly 10 years ago today, the Head of Tajikistan

addressed world leaders for the first time from the high

rostrum of the General Assembly. At that moment,

following the collapse of the Soviet Union, our country

was taking its first steps as an equal member of the

community of nations.

The establishment of Tajikistan as a modern,

democratic, secular State coincided with the emergence

of the need to search for our own ways of interacting

efficiently in a rapidly changing world. Against the

background of the inter-Tajik conflict, we had but little

time to find effective methods of dealing with the huge

political, social and economic problems of the

transitional period.

Today, full of pride in the peace-loving,

industrious and talented people of Tajikistan, I am able

report to the representatives of the world’s countries

that we have emerged with dignity from the toughest

trial that has ever befallen our nation. It stands to

reason that Tajikistan, its people and its statehood were

able to withstand that trial largely thanks to support of

the international community. The United States,

Russia, China, Japan, India and Iran, the European

Union and Central Asia States and many other

countries, large and small, supported the young Tajik

State during that dramatic period of our history. The

United Nations played a special role in this process.

Tajikistan greatly appreciates this support, and is

striving in turn to be a responsible member of the

international community.

A decade may not be sufficient time to take full

stock of progress made on an international or national

scale. However, trying to understand the lessons of the

multifaceted and dramatic events at the turn of this

century could be very useful to our common quest to

make lasting improvements to the world order.

For Tajikistan, the main lesson to be drawn is

clear: the future lies with democracy within sovereign

State borders and with the democratization of

international political and economic relations. The

lesson to be drawn is that establishing a democratic

society is in many ways the same for all countries, but

each case is also unique. Our own experience has

shown that today there are no countries or peoples

unwilling to accept democracy or unprepared for it.

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The peoples of Asia cherish the same values as the

peoples of Europe, America or Africa.

It is also obvious that specific conditions, and

each nation’s historical heritage and cultural traditions,

clearly influence the pace and form of the democratic

processes in each country. This issue was thoroughly

discussed at the Fifth International Conference of New

or Restored Democracies that was recently held in

Mongolia. We believe that its outcome will give a fresh

impetus to democratic processes everywhere, including

Asia.

Establishing a democracy should not be

considered as being easy to achieve, but rather as an

extremely complex step-by-step process. In this sense,

the experience of developed democracies is indeed

invaluable. Nevertheless, even they are still struggling

to strike an optimal balance between the interests of the

State and the individual and resolve the question of

how to meet the basic needs of their citizens while

respecting the primacy of the right to private property

in a market economy.

The people of Tajikistan won their independence

and democracy through enormous suffering and

hardship. Peace prevailed in our country only when we

recognized that national accord should prevail over

political ambitions and military confrontation, as the

highest goal of society, united not only by common

efforts to survive but also by a strong faith in its

creative capacity.

The brightest prospects for Tajikistan lie in a

vision of a future developed democracy and prospering

secular State, bolstered by a strong civil society.

During his visit to Tajikistan last year, Mr. Kofi Annan

could see the tangible outcome of the United Nations

peacekeeping activities and striking change in the

mood of the people, who now have hope for the future

of their children and their country.

We are convinced that the democratic processes

in Tajikistan will gain momentum. We have all the

prerequisites for this. The restoration of peace in

Tajikistan in 1997 laid a solid foundation for a secular

democratic State. The constitution was adopted by a

national referendum. State bodies of authority have

been performing efficiently at all levels, reflecting the

entire spectrum of the extensive political life of the

country.

This does not imply that nothing threatens our

young democracy, or that it is invulnerable. As a

President who knows the needs and problems of the

people who have entrusted me with such a high office,

I will be sincere and share some of my thoughts. These

concern both domestic and international affairs,

including relations with the United Nations.

First of all, we have no right to discredit the idea

of democracy itself, in which Tajik society continues to

place its hopes for a better life. However, experience

has shown that there are no simple recipes for

converting the political process into economic

development. Moreover, Tajikistan’s experience

compellingly demonstrates the need for comprehensive

post-conflict rehabilitation. Enhancing the practical

benefits of such efforts must be a priority for the

United Nations system and the international

community. Conflict zones must be transformed into

areas of stability, and serve as examples to help to

prevent new tragedies.

Donors must make pledges that are responsible,

and do not merely raise hopes. The central coordinating

role in this respect undeniably falls to the United

Nations. We are deeply grateful to the numerous

friends of Tajikistan, including international financial

institutions, for their support. We attach special

importance to our cooperation with the United Nations

Development Programme and other United Nations

agencies. We believe that the United Nations Tajikistan

Office of Peace-building is doing useful work to enable

the international community to better grasp the positive

changes in our country and its interests and needs.

Now that Tajikistan has reached a new stage of

development, we especially appreciate the assistance to

achieve our priority goals. Today, as never before,

Tajikistan needs assistance and practical support for

effectively tapping our rich human and natural

resources. We are resolved to making our economy up

to date and competitive, inter alia, in order to overcome

poverty once and for all.

I must note with regret that despite the many

gains in international affairs these past years, the

international community has still not managed to truly

resolve the problem of poverty. Though the item has

been discussed at many conferences and forums, no

specific actions towards eliminating poverty have

resulted. The growing gap between the rich and poor

countries is becoming a global challenge and threatens

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to emerge as the main obstacle to the harmonious

development of both individual countries and the

community of nations as a whole.

Of course, we must bear the primary burden of

addressing social and economic problems. However,

developing countries are justified in their expectations

for alleviation of the external difficulties encountered

in integrating into the world economy, which, in our

case, is connected to access to investment, markets and

high technologies. Equally pressing for us are the

problems of landlocked countries that have long been

discussed at international conferences, particularly

closed borders and the many barriers to the free

exchange of goods, services, capital and labour.

I would like to draw attention to another such

issue: the problem of freshwater. We are glad that

Tajikistan’s proposal to proclaim 2003 the International

Year of Freshwater was enthusiastically supported by

the international community. Experience has shown

that it was a very timely decision that met the

expectations of us all. The shortage of freshwater is

one of the most urgent concerns of the new

millennium. Every year the demand for water increases

because of the need to produce sufficient food — and I

can provide statistics in support of that assertion. Some

1.2 billion people have no access to freshwater. More

than 5 million people die every year from water-related

diseases. According to estimates of the United Nations

Food and Agriculture Organization, meeting the food

needs of the growing global population will require a

60 per cent increase in food production over the next

30 years. By 2030, one out of every five developing

countries will be experiencing enormous difficulties

because of current and future water shortages.

A significant investment must be made in

updating technology and improving water resource

management so as to support economic growth and

lessen the burden of poverty.

Guided by the Water Appeal, which was adopted

on 1 September 2003 by the participants of the

International Freshwater Forum in Dushanbe, I propose

that the period 2005-2015 be proclaimed the

International Decade of Freshwater.

The adoption by the General Assembly of a

resolution on this important matter would mean the

logical extension of the idea of the International Year

of Freshwater. It would also be in keeping with the

provisions of the Millennium Declaration, which set

the goal of halving, by 2015, the number of people who

lack access to freshwater and sanitation.

The International Decade of Freshwater would

allow the international community to continue its focus

on the issue of the shortage of water. Water, the

common heritage of humankind, is vital for the

preservation of life on Earth and essential for ensuring

sustainable development.

It is well known that terrorism poses a threat to

democracy. Tajikistan has had first-hand experience of

this problem, as for 10 years we have been a kind of

buffer zone against the expansion of terror in Central

Asia and other countries. Precisely for that reason,

Tajikistan has taken an active part in all efforts to root

out that evil.

We are equally resolute in our condemnation of

and desire to counteract all forms of terrorism. In this

struggle, which we can win only through united efforts,

there can be no selectivity or double standards. It is

clear, however, that terrorism cannot be curbed solely

by military methods. It would be equally erroneous to

believe that the phenomenon is rooted in a single

religion or culture. The rejection of democracy is not

the only source of terrorism; terrorism also takes

advantage of injustice and suffering, of the arrogance

of some and the sense of humiliation felt by others.

Terrorism shows up in places where one

“absolute truth” is confronted by another. Although

terrorism has nothing to do with the conflict of

civilizations, the extension of the dialogue among

civilizations that was begun by the General Assembly

in 1998 can contribute to better mutual

understanding — the lack of which is quite evident.

Dialogue is always more constructive than war.

Dialogue conducted in all areas will liberate

international relations from fear and mistrust and will

make international cooperation constructive and

creative.

Our consolidated efforts have dealt a severe blow

to terrorism as an organized phenomenon, but such

efforts have not yet defeated it. One of the lessons

learned in the course of this struggle — a struggle in

which Tajikistan is an active participant — is that

international terrorism has no ideology, nation or

homeland. Furthermore, terrorism cannot exist without

financial and logistical support. In this context, we

should note that democracy is threatened by another

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phenomenon that is no less frightening — that of drug

aggression.

The illicit trade in drugs has become one of the

major sources of financing for international terrorism.

The urgency and magnitude of the problems related to

the illicit drug trafficking provide clear proof that this

is a global menace that endangers international stability

and security as a whole.

Tajikistan has an extensive border with

Afghanistan, and finds itself in a position between the

world’s major producer of opium and heroin and the

drug-consuming countries, to which international

organized crime is smuggling the “white death”.

As President of Tajikistan, I consider the need to

curb drug trafficking through my country to be one of

our nation’s top priorities. During his visit to Tajikistan

last year, the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, had

the opportunity to observe the great professional skill

and dedication of the staff of the Agency for Drug

Control that has been established there with the support

of the international community.

According to United Nations data, Tajikistan is

ranked fourth in the world and first in the

Commonwealth of Independent States in terms of the

quantity of drugs withdrawn from trade. As a result of

our efforts in the past four years, more than $1 billion

worth of opiates has been confiscated from drug

dealers.

The struggle against such narcotic aggression,

which generates multibillion dollar profits in countries

located far from Tajikistan, will be successful only

through the consolidation of collective efforts.

Given the increased drug threat, and in order to

expand multilateral cooperation in combating it,

Tajikistan proposes the establishment of a global

partnership to counteract the drug threat. Such a

unique, broad anti-drug coalition could become a

reliable barrier to the expansion of this scourge.

The Secretary-General could become coordinator

of such a partnership, and the United Nations Office

for Drug Control and Crime Prevention could become

its central executive body. Such a global partnership

would coordinate all efforts in the field at all levels,

including the regional level.

I would like to take this opportunity to draw the

attention of Members to another issue that is cause for

concern. Certain groups of people have been using the

global communications media recently in an attempt to

equate such grave threats to humankind as terrorism

and extremism with the holy religion of Islam. Such an

interpretation represents a distortion of the peaceful

essence of Islam and presents the religion to the

international community as a source of evil and

violence, thus giving rise to hostility towards the entire

Muslim world and encouraging neo-fascist and other

discriminatory attitudes.

We would like once again to stress that the acts of

terror that are being carried out in a number of

countries are crimes, committed by cruel, merciless

people who are driven by the lust for power and

personal gain - people who have nothing to do with the

holy religion of the world’s Muslims.

Humanity must understand that Islam is not a

religion of violence, but like the world’s other

religions, calls upon people to show mercy and

compassion and appeals for peace and harmony.

Tajikistan supports increased regional

cooperation in all areas. Our goal is to create a zone of

peace, stability, harmony and prosperity in Central

Asia.

Turning Central Asia into a zone free of weapons

of mass destruction is a matter of principle for

Tajikistan, and that is why my country endorsed the

idea of establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone in the

region.

Meanwhile, I would like to join the common

concern about increased difficulties related to the non-

proliferation of these types of weapon in the world,

including South Asia. I am convinced that the time has

come not to weaken, but rather to intensify, collective

efforts and expand disarmament mechanisms.

Another issue has become a challenge of the

twenty-first century — the increasing number of

territories aspiring to the status of State but not

recognized as such by the international community.

Those territories become criminalized from within,

establish external ties that are not quite legal and

become catalysts for regional conflicts.

For that reason, it is in the interest of the

international community to start, in the short term, to

develop universal criteria for international recognition

of States. By doing so, it would be possible to prevent

the provocation of separatist sentiments in certain

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regions that are fraught with negative consequences for

the destinies of many peoples and States.

Tajikistan notes with satisfaction the considerable

progress in the revival of Afghanistan. We are

enthusiastic about how the international community is

resolute in its support for processes of national accord

and peace-building in our neighbouring country.

Tajikistan is deeply aware of the need to render

international support to Afghanistan, and it will

increase its assistance to the efforts undertaken by the

Afghanistan Government headed by Mr. Hamid Karzai.

Meanwhile, we are persistent in calling on the

international community not to lessen its attention to

the needs of that country, to renew its vigorous

commitment to rendering support for positive change,

to give fresh impetus to the peace process, making it

irreversible, and to dramatically increase efforts to

uproot drug production in Afghanistan.

Given the global danger of the drug problem, I

once again call on the international community and

relevant international organizations to develop a

unified programme of action aimed at eradicating the

production, manufacture and dissemination of drugs in

that country.

The situation in Iraq continues to be a cause for

pain and concern. Conditions there are still far from

normal. It is not only a matter of the post-military

environment, the lost lives of military personnel, and,

even more sadly, of peaceful citizens. It is a matter of

the lack of acceptable living conditions for many Iraqi

people.

Though positive changes are obvious, restoring

Iraq’s sovereignty is the greatest priority. We share the

majority opinion regarding the fact that the Iraqi people

themselves should determine their future and that the

international community, embodied by the United

Nations, should be called on to render assistance in the

implementation of that goal.

Every people follows its own road to democracy.

However, only together can we deal with the

challenges and the threats we face on this path.

The United Nations remains the ultimate, indeed

unique, mechanism for taking collective action to

address global issues. The noble goals for human

development set out in the Millennium Declaration,

which Tajikistan joined in signing, is convincing proof

of that. The United Nations has united almost all

countries of the world. All of us, the United Nations

founding Member States and recently admitted

Member States, pledged to observe its Charter. And

that is the way it should be.

Our Organization is currently experiencing

another test — the search for efficient answers in new

circumstances with new requirements for world

development. The point is that the Organization and its

major bodies should keep up with the processes

occurring in a constantly changing world. Though

reform of the United Nations is under way, the time has

come to channel the practical activities of all its bodies

into real priorities.

In the field of international peace and security,

the focus should be on the prevention of military

conflicts, both intergovernmental and internal.

The General Assembly, the Economic and Social

Council and all other components of the United

Nations system are faced with the need to find

convincing answers to the globalization process, in

order to bridge the gap between the industrialized and

the developing countries.

We expect improved professional skills from

Secretariat staff members and increased practical

outcome of their work and of the work of all United

Nations agencies, for the benefit of all Member States.

The feeling that the United Nations is going

through a crisis that materialized at some point is

already fading. It is being substituted by an awareness

of the need to strengthen the Organization, as well as

for collective interaction within its framework. The

preservation and the development of the Organization

is our common goal, as the international community

has no another similar universal mechanism.

The United Nations is the heritage of all

humanity. Tajikistan will be resolute in doing

everything possible for the successful implementation

of the noble mission of the United Nations for the

benefit of all mankind.