Security Council meeting 4140

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Austria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Portugal, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, in which they request 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 those representatives 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 President

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations and in the absence of any objection, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the Mission in Tajikistan.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

I invite Mr. Petrov to take a seat at the Council table.

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 Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan, document S/2000/387.

At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the Mission in Tajikistan, Mr. Ivo Petrov, to whom I give the floor.

Mr. Petrov (Special Representative of the Secretary-General)

Today the Security Council is discussing for the last time the activities of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) and the implementation of the General Agreement for peace and national reconciliation in Tajikistan. The main provisions of the peace Agreement have been implemented, and the transition period came to an end with the holding of the first multi-party parliamentary elections and the first session of the new Parliament.

The positive outcome of the peace process in Tajikistan is attributable to three main factors: first, United Nations involvement from the very beginning of the hostilities in the country; secondly, the strong support of eight neighbouring States -- especially the Russian Federation and Islamic Republic of Iran -- that later became guarantors of the General Agreement and members of the Contact Group; and thirdly, but not least the political will of the two Tajik parties and their leadership to resolve differences through dialogue.

I want to begin with the first main factor, United Nations involvement. The United Nations was instrumental in assisting the negotiation process, which was conducted under its aegis. UNMOT was given a clear mandate by the Security Council, based on the General Agreement. The Security Council supported the Mission and responded positively to its needs whenever that was necessary.

The process of implementation of the provisions of the General Agreement was not free of serious crises. These were expected, as the level of suspicion and lack of confidence between former military opponents prevailed for a long time. Many times the work of the Commission on National Reconciliation was put on hold. However, all of these crises were resolved through the good offices of UNMOT, together with the Contact Group. Special mechanisms, such as ad hoc working groups chaired by the Mission and comprising representatives of both sides, were developed, and they performed efficiently.

The second factor is the contribution of the Contact Group States. The Contact Group of Guarantor States and international organizations conducted more than 130 meetings and played a most vital role as a crisis management mechanism. Throughout the transition period, the Contact Group maintained close working relations with all actors involved in the implementation of the provisions of the General Agreement, including the Government, the Commission on National Reconciliation and a number of international organizations. I would like to underline the fact that during the whole period of the functioning of the Contact Group, the interest of the peace process has always been the priority for the guarantor States.

The third factor is the contribution of the Tajik sides. The Government of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition made the most decisive contribution to the success of the peace process. President Rakhmonov and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition, Mr. Nuri, played a historic role in this regard. Both sides' goodwill and commitment to the achievement of peace and national accord in Tajikistan are an important guarantee for a viable peace in the country in the future. The 32 months taken to implement the General Agreement, as compared to the 12 to 18 months stipulated in the Agreement, ought not to detract from this achievement, given the adverse psychological effects of five years of civil war. Working together in the Commission on National Reconciliation created a new attitude for both sides towards the most vital problems of the country.

Despite the successful completion of the transitional period, the country is still facing a lot of problems. There are too many people in arms. The country is regarded by organized crime as a preferred transit route for drug trafficking to Europe. The situation in Afghanistan is a constant source of instability in the whole region. In view of these challenges, Tajikistan requires continued support from the international community for stabilization and post-conflict peace-building.

The key to maintaining peace and political stability in Tajikistan is sustained economic growth. Tajikistan remains the poorest Commonwealth of Independent States country, with an average monthly wage of less than $10. According to a recent World Bank/United Nations Development Programme Living Standards Survey, 80 per cent of the population suffers from extreme poverty. Recent poor harvests, the collapse of the social safety, public health, sanitation and educational systems has meant continued dependence on international assistance.

The country has received humanitarian assistance, and the figures for donor response to the appeal for 2000 are also encouraging: 28 per cent of the total requested, $34.8 million, has been pledged or committed. However, it must be stressed that the country needs not only humanitarian assistance; the problem of economic and social recovery and structural changes, including market reforms, requires significant international development assistance. This has been highly inadequate so far. Without international economic assistance, the viability of the political achievements might be endangered.

In the case of Tajikistan one can say that, in proportion to their accomplishments, the Tajik sides and the Tajik people have received less support than other States and peoples in a similar situation. This could be rectified through assistance for the new period of post-conflict stabilization in that country.

The United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) could be regarded as a success story of United Nations peacekeeping. This was possible because of the factors I mentioned at the outset, but also because of the dedicated work of the people who have participated in the mission over the past five and a half years. I wish to stress here the highly professional work of my predecessors, the Special Envoys and Representatives for Tajikistan, Ismat Kittani, Ramiro Piriz-Ballon, Gerd Merrem and Jan Kubis, as well as heads of mission Liviu Bota and Darco Silovic. Commendation for work well done should be addressed to all members of the staff of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, both civilian and military, both international and local.

Mr. Lavrov (Russia)

We thank Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tajikistan and head of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), for participating in today's meeting and, most important, for the work he and his colleagues are carrying out in Tajikistan.

Today's meeting of the Security Council and the statement which you, Mr. President, will be making at its conclusion are unusual events. They will aim at summing up the many United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Tajikistan, including the work of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, and at reaffirming the international community's unswerving support for the Tajik people on its difficult path to peace and national reconciliation.

Russia welcomes the success that has been achieved in the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Tajikistan. The implementation of the major provisions of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, signed on 27 June 1997 at Moscow under United Nations auspices, is an important achievement not only by the Tajik people but also by the United Nations. The success of the peace process was advanced by the activities of UNMOT, the Contact Group of guarantor States and international organizations, and donor States, which have played an extremely positive role at various stages of the inter-Tajik settlement process.

As Mr. Petrov has said, the basis of success has of course been the goodwill of the former parties to the conflict, their political courage, their realism and their ability to subordinate their own ambitions to the interests of the people. I wish, through the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Rashid Alimov, who is participating in today's meeting, to congratulate all Tajiks on this important gain, which will have defined the peaceful, democratic development of Tajik society.

Russia has played an active role at all stages of the inter-Tajik settlement process and, along with Iran and its Central Asian partners, has become one of the key guarantors of the implementation of the General Agreement. Russian peacekeepers within the collective peacekeeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in close cooperation with UNMOT, have made a substantive contribution to stabilizing the situation, to promoting and ensuring the safety and security of United Nations and other international personnel in Tajikistan, to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and to the implementation of the General Agreement.

Over the past several years, together with their Tajik colleagues, Russian border troops have carried out an important task, helping to stabilize the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border by raising a barrier to the illegal traffic in narcotic drugs and in weapons, and by putting an end to the activities of terrorists, extremists and other subversive elements from the territory of neighbouring Afghanistan.

We know that a great deal remains to be done to consolidate peace and stability in Tajikistan. We note with satisfaction that the report of the Secretary-General states that actions laid down in the General Agreement but not yet carried out in full will in fact be completed by the relevant Government organs. In that connection, we support such measures taken by the leadership of Tajikistan as the integration of former participants in the hostilities into the country's military structures and the removal from the population of weapons, ammunition and other illegal possessions.

Russia also supports recent measures by leaders of the Republic of Tajikistan to improve the situation in the country and in the Central Asian region as a whole. Together with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and our other CIS partners, we are ready to strengthen efforts to counter international terrorism and extremism.

We fully share the Secretary-General's conclusion that the international community should continue to provide support to Tajikistan, which has now embarked upon the enterprise of post-conflict peace-building. Here, we support the Secretary-General's intention to inform the Security Council of the objectives of a United Nations office for Tajikistan, to be established following the withdrawal of UNMOT upon the expiry of its mandate, on 15 May 2000. There should be no break in the United Nations presence in Tajikistan. In addition to the general aim of promoting the post-conflict social and economic rehabilitation of Tajikistan, the mandate of the new United Nations office should include such important elements as technical and financial assistance for the process of reintegrating former participants in the hostilities, completion of their demobilization, creation of civilian employment for former military personnel, disarmament of the population and the return of remaining refugees.

Today, as the Republic of Tajikistan embarks on a path leading to the ultimate establishment of civil accord and peace, Russia is ready to offer all possible assistance for post-conflict peace-building in Tajikistan.

Ms. Moglia (Argentina)

The Argentine delegation wishes to welcome the way in which the situation in Tajikistan is being addressed. We thank Mr. Petrov for his briefing and we thank the Secretary-General for his report, document S/2000/387.

We want to say how pleased we are at the way in which the political process in Tajikistan has evolved since January 1993, when the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) was established as a small political office in Dushanbe in the midst of the civil war that broke out immediately following Tajikistan's achievement of independence. The efforts of successive Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General to promote inter-Tajik talks were productive and ultimately led to a ceasefire.

Subsequently, through the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan of June 1997, the Government and the opposition, as well as Tajik society as a whole, made clear their wish for peace and democracy.

The Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Contact Group of Guarantor States and International Organizations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission also took part in this productive process. We should like to express our sincere gratitude to all of them.

We regret, however, that in consolidating this process there have been times of great difficulty for the security of UNMOT personnel. We have had to mourn the loss of six of its members. We should like to pay a special tribute to them. We should like to tell their families that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Furthermore, we are aware that the recent parliamentary elections were far from being perfect, that there are still many armed elements whose actions are beyond the control of the Government, that there are acute economic and social problems and that the instability in the region is contributing to the situation of insecurity.

Accordingly, we agree with the Secretary-General's comments, contained in his report, that the continued support of the international community in the post-conflict phase will be important for Tajikistan's ability to sustain and build on the achievements of the peace process. In this context, we await with great interest the proposal that will be sent to the Security Council relating to the possible establishment of a post-conflict peace-building office that will have the important and lofty objective of addressing the institutional, social and economic development of the country, within a framework of peace, democracy and respect for human rights. We believe that the presence in Tajikistan of the United Nations, whose work was essential and invaluable, will thus be guaranteed during this new stage of democratic consolidation.

In this spirit, we support the draft presidential statement that endorses the Secretary-General's plan to withdraw UNMOT when its mandate expires on 15 May and that encourages Member States and other interested parties to make voluntary contributions to projects for the social and economic recovery of the country.

Mr. Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

My delegation would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ivo Petrov, for his briefing and introduction of the report of the Secretary-General contained in document S/2000/387.

I would like to make some brief comments on several areas. The first relates to elections. As my delegation commented on 21 March, the holding of parliamentary elections in Tajikistan on 27 February was a significant step forward in the democratic process. We are pleased to note that it was the first multi-party, pluralistic election in the history of Tajikistan. It included participation by former warring parties, and the fact that elections were held without violent incidents designed to halt the process was in itself a success.

Secondly, with regard to the integration of opposition fighters, we believe that in order to consolidate the peace process, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society should be given high priority. It cannot be viewed merely as a sequential event which will follow their disarmament. The two processes are intertwined. Positive results gained from the reintegration of the former combatants into society will mobilize those still holding on to arms and encourage them to surrender their weapons.

My third comment relates to the role of the Tajik Government, which should focus on consolidating the achievements already made. Elections are only a starting point in a long journey in the quest for national reconciliation and democratic institution-building. The Tajik Government, with the full support of the international community, should concentrate on carrying this process forward.

Fourthly, with regard to future United Nations engagement and the role of the international community, we have noted from the Secretary-General's report that he will be consulting the Tajik Government about the possible role of the United Nations in post-conflict peace-building and will inform the Council about the outcome of his consultations. It would be worthwhile for the Council to consider some viable and convincing options for the future involvement of the United Nations in Tajikistan.

Finally, with regard to the way ahead, the international community has a responsibility to see that the gains achieved in Tajikistan are not lost due to waning interest after the immediate crisis is over. It should come forward with assistance to help the fledgling democracy take root and to create opportunities for the people to see hope in their future.

The President

I should like to inform the Security Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Turkmenistan in which she 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.

Mr. Mohammad Kamal (Malaysia)

Let me, at the outset, extend my delegation's warm welcome to Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Tajikistan, and thank him for his very useful briefing. We are also grateful to the Secretary-General for his final report (S/2000/387) on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT).

My delegation welcomes the significant achievements in the peace and reconciliation process in Tajikistan, as described by the Secretary-General in his report. We wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Tajik leadership and people for their political will and the strong commitment that they have demonstrated to end the war in their country and pursue the path of peace and national accord. We strongly urge them to strive further, with determined effort, to strengthen and consolidate the achievements made thus far so that the peace process will be irreversible.

The United Nations, with the important support of the Contact Group and international organizations, in particular the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States Collective Peacekeeping Forces, has played a crucial role in the Tajik peace process. Some seven years of active involvement of the United Nations in Tajikistan has been recognized as a success, culminating in the successful conclusion of UNMOT's mandate. This is indeed a matter of great satisfaction to my delegation. At the same time, we note that this success has not been without price. We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Petrov and his predecessors, and to all the men and women of UNMOT, especially the Mission personnel who gave their lives in the service of peace in Tajikistan.

There is still a long way to go before peace can really endure in Tajikistan. The challenge of disarming armed elements that operate outside the Government's control, as well as the daunting economic and social problems, have yet to be fully and effectively overcome. We fully share the Secretary-General's assessment that continued international support for Tajikistan will remain necessary beyond the current transitional period. In this regard, we strongly support the Secretary-General's intention to establish a United Nations post-conflict peace-building office in Tajikistan, following the withdrawal of UNMOT, with the objective of consolidating peace and promoting democracy. We therefore look forward to the details on the establishment of that office.

Finally, we would like to express our support for the draft presidential statement that this Council will adopt following this meeting. We thank the Russian delegation for its initiative.

Mr. Eldon (United Kingdom)

The Council has an exceptionally busy agenda today and, in recognition of that fact, I will shorten my statement, though the Secretariat will distribute the full version. I should also like to associate my delegation with the statement that the Permanent Representative of Portugal will make later this afternoon on behalf of the European Union.

We are grateful to Special Representative Petrov for his briefing this afternoon. The road to peace in Tajikistan has not been easy. The United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) was forced to act in volatile and dangerous circumstances, sadly losing six of its staff, and the political process continues to be difficult, with international observers declaring the recent parliamentary elections to be deeply flawed.

We must take this opportunity to congratulate UNMOT's leadership and staff for their excellent work. We should particularly remember those peacekeepers who gave their lives to the cause of peace in Tajikistan. We trust that the Government of Tajikistan will take steps to ensure the safety of those personnel who are to remain in the country.

We should not underestimate the task that faces the people and leaders of Tajikistan if they are to grasp this opportunity for lasting peace. The United Kingdom is pleased that the Secretary-General intends to establish a post-conflict peace-building office in Dushanbe. We hope that the office will incorporate a significant human rights capability. Respect for the human rights of the Tajik people, the building of strong democratic institutions and the enforcement of the rule of law are not optional extras. They are key elements to the future peace and stability of Tajikistan and their promotion should be at the core of the new office's role.

Mr. Andjaba (Namibia)

I want to thank the Secretary-General for his report and Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for the additional information.

My delegation welcomes the success achieved in the peace process in Tajikistan. We also commend the role played by the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) and other parties. There is no doubt that their perseverance, often through difficult times, hugely contributed to the current positive state of affairs.

While acknowledging the overall success of the peace process, my delegation notes the difficulties that remain, in particular the existence of armed elements outside the control of the Government, which contributes to insecurity, as well as the daunting economic and social challenges. We hope that, in time, these problems can also be solved effectively.

My delegation is grateful for the excellent summary by the Secretary-General of the activities of UNMOT since its establishment. When reading through the report, I could not help drawing a parallel between difficulties experienced by that Mission, which achieved success, and missions currently under way, in particular in Africa. There is a clear message that, with perseverance by all parties, a mission can be successful, despite the existence of numerous and protracted difficulties.

Even more striking for my delegation are the characteristics cited that contributed to the overall positive outcome of the Mission. These include the early engagement of the United Nations in the conflict; the sustained political support of the Security Council and interested member States in the region; cooperation with other organizations; effective crisis management; and the clear will of the people of the country to end the war and pursue a political solution.

It seems that if these requirements could be met by the United Nations and the international community as a whole, other peace efforts could also succeed. What is required is the political will of all the parties concerned.

Finally, I would like to join the Secretary-General in paying tribute to the men and women who served in UNMOT and we look forward to his opinion about the possible establishment of a post-conflict peace-building office in Tajikistan. Furthermore, we support the draft presidential statement that was submitted by the Russian delegation.

Mr. Jerandi (Tunisia)

The exhaustive report which has just been presented to us by Mr. Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General -- whom we wish to thank, along with all the members of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), for their efforts -- marks the last of a series devoted to the situation in Tajikistan and the activities of UNMOT.

I take this opportunity to associate myself with preceding delegations in welcoming the successful culmination of the peace process in Tajikistan. The success of this process was the result of the will demonstrated by the Tajik parties. We hail their resolve to overcome the obstacles they encountered throughout this period. Despite the repeated crises that threatened the process, this determination allowed the conclusion of a series of agreements, crowned by the signing of the General Agreement of 1997.

While noting with satisfaction the highly important role of the United Nations in the comprehensive implementation of the main provisions of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, I should like to pay due tribute to the various protagonists who participated, either on site or at a distance, in the peace process in Tajikistan and its consolidation. In particular, we wish to thank the officials and staff of UNMOT, military and civilian alike, who often worked in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions with the assistance of others, such as the Contact Group of Guarantor States and International Organizations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission and the Commonwealth of Independent States collective peacekeeping forces. In that context, we pay homage to the memory of those who fell in the service of peace in Tajikistan.

With the withdrawal of UNMOT and the expiration of its mandate on 15 May 2000, the support of the international community will be extremely important and remain indispensable if Tajikistan is to continue on the path of peace and national reconciliation. We attach particular importance to this post-conflict phase, for the situation in Tajikistan remains fragile because of domestic and external factors alike, which can be a source of instability and the resurgence of violence. We urge all the parties to persevere to ensure that the gains made since 1993 are consolidated within the framework of the new United Nations office, which will work for the consolidation of peace and the social and economic restoration of Tajikistan.

Mr. Minton (United States)

The United States concurs with the Secretary-General's assessment that the process which the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) was created to support is now over. With the recent violence-free parliamentary elections, the transition set forth in the peace accords has been completed.

We agree that UNMOT should be formally terminated upon expiration of its current mandate on 15 May 2000. For this achievement, we wish to congratulate Special Representative Petrov and the staff of UNMOT. We are aware of the sacrifices made by UNMOT personnel, recognizing in particular that some gave their lives for this cause, and we feel the deepest gratitude for their contributions.

My delegation now hopes that the Government of Tajikistan will build on the successful work of UNMOT by taking further steps to consolidate the gains of the peace process. It is particularly important that the emerging democratic institutions of Tajikistan be nurtured and solidified, so that all groups within the country have a voice and a stake in the political process.

Although the recent elections constituted a significant step towards democracy, they were marked by serious flaws and cannot fully be characterized as free, fair and transparent. The process of reconciliation among various political and social groups in Tajikistan is still far from complete. The United States therefore believes that the closure of the peacekeeping mission should by no means signify an end to the international community's engagement with Tajikistan and that support for the peace process there must continue.

We concur that there is a need for the establishment of a small follow-on United Nations mission to support peace-building and further national reconciliation. We welcome further discussion of the follow-on mission, and we are open to ideas and suggestions as to how it can best be organized, staffed and administered. We anticipate that this mission will build effectively on the accomplishments of UNMOT.

The United States looks forward to working with the international community and with the Government and people of Tajikistan in bringing about full national reconciliation and stability in that country.

Mr. Duval (Canada)

We would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Petrov, for his briefing, as well as his excellent work in the field.

We welcome the successful conclusion of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), which is a proud achievement, and particularly gratifying at this time in light of the current difficulties we face in Sierra Leone. While the two missions are, of course, very different, both in scope and complexity, UNMOT's contribution to the peace process in Tajikistan does demonstrate that the United Nations has an important role to play in helping Member States overcome security crises that imperil security, so that they may embark on the path to peace, national reconciliation and democracy.

Canada salutes the valiant efforts of the men and women of UNMOT for their important work under very difficult and often dangerous conditions. We pay tribute to those members who gave their lives in the service of peace in Tajikistan. We wish to express our sympathy to the bereaved families. As the Secretary-General noted in his report earlier this month, their sacrifice must not be forgotten. A fitting memorial will be the continuation of the United Nations involvement in Tajikistan to support national efforts to build a peaceful and stable country, rooted in respect for human rights, the rule of law, democracy and good governance.

Canada looks forward to the Secretary-General's proposal for the post-conflict peace-building office, which should include a component focusing on the promotion and protection of human rights. The international community must remain actively involved in helping address the range of political, economic, social and human rights issues affecting the country.

Canada supports the presidential statement.

Miss Durrant (Jamaica)

My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the situation in Tajikistan, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ivo Petrov, for his briefing.

Jamaica applauds the resolution of the conflict and the establishment of peace in Tajikistan. This is an important step towards achieving stability in Central Asia. We commend the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) for the implementation of its mandate, in accordance with the 1997 Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan.

The Mission has reached a successful conclusion. We wish to acknowledge the contribution of the Secretary-General and his Special Representatives, and of those countries and international organizations which supported the peace efforts of the United Nations. We also wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the cause of peace.

The commitment of the Tajik people and Government to the creation of a pluralistic democracy is clear. The country is now well on the road to peace and national reconciliation, and the international community must support the efforts of the Government aimed at economic, political and military reforms. Existing political institutions must be strengthened in order to ensure the creation of a sustainable system of governance in collaboration with the Tajik people.

We believe that the United Nations must remain involved in order to cement the gains made in the peace process, to foster greater democracy in the region and to ensure that continuing instability does not jeopardize the peace achieved.

My delegation therefore welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a post-conflict peace-building mission following the withdrawal of UNMOT. While United Nations programmes and agencies in Tajikistan will have new priorities, they will have a crucial role to play in the years ahead. The long-term economic and social development of Tajikistan must be addressed by strengthening local institutions and through capacity-building. Humanitarian activities must continue to be given prominence. Increased emphasis must now be placed on ensuring the return of refugees from neighbouring countries and internally displaced persons to their places of origin, as well as on the reintegration of ex-combatants. But if United Nations personnel are to operate effectively, their security must be assured and not threatened by armed elements operating outside of the control of the Government.

In conclusion, I wish to express my delegation's support for the presidential statement initiated by the Russian Federation.

Mr. Krokhmal (Ukraine)

My delegation is grateful to Mr. Petrov, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his informative briefing on the latest developments in Tajikistan and the activities of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT).

In March the Security Council agenda focused on the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan that had been held in February. On a very positive note, Council members maintained that the elections were held on a multi-party and pluralistic basis. During the elections, the people of Tajikistan rose to the challenge of peace and democracy by accepting the democratic standards of governance. We are all aware that the elections brought new capacities and new perspectives to the movement towards long-term stability in that country.

We believe that the Government and people of Tajikistan, in line with this democratic choice, will continue to seek a way forward that provides for development of democratic institutions. Even more importantly, it must be accompanied by progress on economic and social reforms in the country.

The progress that the parties to the peace process in Tajikistan have made is most evident in the post-conflict peace-building. We are pleased to note that the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) in Tajikistan is broadly recognized as a success. In three days the Mission will cease to exist. The more than seven years of its dedicated operation in the country have testified to the sincere desire of the international community to bring peace and reconciliation to this country.

The road to peace and reconciliation in Tajikistan has not been a smooth one. It was marked by periods of uncertainty and grave crises. However, the Government and political parties of Tajikistan demonstrated their commitment to the peace agreement, solved their differences through dialogue, overcame many obstacles and eventually embarked on the path towards the peace and democracy.

As the Secretary-General rightly stresses in the report, the support of the Security Council was decisive in helping UNMOT through difficult times. My delegation pays tribute to the Contract Group of Guarantor States and International Organizations for the effort it made to maintain a political dialogue between the Tajik parties. We would also like to commend the UNMOT staff members for their dedicated work during these years. This work ensured the successful implementation of the task entrusted to them by the international community. We are proud of the fact that Ukrainian nationals made a real contribution to the successful work of the Mission. We pay special tribute to those Mission members who gave their lives in the service of peace in Tajikistan.

The tasks that face Tajik society today are no less important then those of the previous period. A major challenge now is to consolidate peace and promote democracy. International support during this very challenging period will be of particular value to that country. We are convinced that the Organization should provide assistance to the consolidation of democracy in Tajikistan. We anticipate that the implementation of the provisions set forth in General Assembly resolution 54/96 A, "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and rehabilitation in Tajikistan", will receive new impetus in the new, secure environment in Tajikistan.

In this context we welcome the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General in drawing the attention of the international community to the current humanitarian issues in Tajikistan and in mobilizing international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country's economy.

We support the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations post-conflict peace-building office in Tajikistan. We believe that cooperation between the future office and other international agencies in Tajikistan and with the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will be of great importance for the democratic development of Tajik society.

I also would like to support the draft presidential statement proposed be the Russian Federation.

Mr. Ag Oumar (Mali)

My delegation would like to thank Mr. Ivo Petrov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), for presenting the report of the Secretary-General. My delegation deeply appreciates the way in which he guided the mandate of UNMOT.

The Security Council will recall that, last 21 March, when it considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan contained in document S/2000/214, it believed that the holding of the first pluralist parliamentary elections would mark a major step forward in the process of democratization and national reconciliation. The expiration of the mandate of UNMOT had then been announced for 15 May -- that is, three days from now.

The report of the Secretary-General in document S/2000/387 -- which is the last of the series and which has been submitted for our consideration -- reports on the completion of the electoral process which paved the way for peace in Tajikistan. Thus the two chambers of the newly elected parliament held their first joint session on 27 April. The election of candidates to the 33 seats of the National Assembly, the upper house, was held as scheduled on 23 March, and, in accordance with the Constitution, 25 deputies were elected by local assemblies and 8 were appointed by the President. The Commission on National Reconciliation was formally dissolved by presidential decree as from 1 April.

To reach this stage, the United Nations has travelled a long road, but, as it is said, "all's well that ends well". However, the international community should not rest on its laurels; the way ahead is still long and full of obstacles. The reintegration of the opposition into the political life of the country is a major achievement; however, parliamentary elections, in the view of international observers, were marred by serious irregularities, and armed elements are continuing to operate beyond the control of the Government, thus contributing to a climate of insecurity. The country has been experiencing enormous economic and social problems. A resurgence of instability cannot be ruled out on account of both domestic factors and the unstable situation throughout the region.

Tajikistan is entering a new phase of its history and needs the support of the international community more than ever to pursue and complete the peace process and to secure the outcome.

My delegation supports the Secretary-General's proposal to establish a United Nations office which would be entrusted with peace-building and would facilitate an ongoing search for solutions to the problems of institutional, social and economic development in a consistent fashion, in order to strengthen peace and promote democracy in Tajikistan.

My delegation would like to congratulate the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan, who is here today, and we would like to express our satisfaction with the unstinting cooperation that the Tajik people and Government provided. It allowed UNMOT to achieve its mandate. I also note the Contact Group's support of these efforts.

My delegation also thanks the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, the military observers and the men and women who participated in this Mission often under difficult conditions.

Finally, my delegation would like to pay tribute to those who fell in the service of peace for mankind, and we present our condolences to their families. My delegation will support the Russian Federation's proposed statement, which will authorize the expiration of UNMOT's mandate. We thank that delegation for this work.

The President

I will now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of China.

The Chinese delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the situation in Tajikistan. Our thanks also go to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Petrov, for his briefing.

At the outset I would like to express my congratulations for the success achieved in the peace process in Tajikistan and by the United Nations peacekeeping operation in that country. This success shows that the practical implementation of the peace agreement and the success of the United Nations peacekeeping operation have depended on the political will of the Tajik Government and other parties concerned. They have also depended on the strong support of the international community. We express our profound appreciation to the United Nations, the Contact Group, the Russian Federation and other parties concerned for their efforts.

As the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) comes to an end, we would like to pay special tribute to the successive Special Representatives of the Secretary-General for their contributions.

We salute UNMOT for the important role it has played in promoting national reconciliation in Tajikistan, especially those who gave their lives for the cause of peace in Tajikistan.

We support the intention of the Secretary-General to hold consultations with the Tajik Government with a view to agreeing as soon as possible on the establishment of the United Nations post-conflict peace-building office in Tajikistan.

As a friendly neighbour of Tajikistan, China will continue to contribute to the economic rehabilitation and social development of Tajikistan.

In closing, the Chinese delegation supports the draft presidential statement to be adopted by the Council.

I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council.

I give the floor to the representative of Tajikistan.

Mr. Alimov (Tajikistan)

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