Comprehensive political settlement to conflict urged.

Stressing the urgent need for a "comprehensive political sewement of the conflict through the inter-Tajik dialogue", the Security Council called for "substantive progress on fundamental institutional and political issues". It also asked the parties to fully cooperate with the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Ramiro Piriz-Ballon.

The Council acted on 16 June by unanimously adopting resolution 999 (1995), by which it extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) for six months, until 15 December. The mission was established in December 1994.

The Council agreed to the extension provided that the 17 September 1994 Tehran Agreement between the Tajik Government and the opposition remained in force, and that the parties continued to be committed to an effective cease-fire, national reconciliation and promotion of democracy.

The parties were also urged to: agree to the early convening of a further round of inter-taiik talks; implement without delay all confidence-building measur(*, particularly on the exchange of detainees and prisoners of war, and on the return of all refugees and displaced persons; comply with all their obligations; and cooperate fully with UNMOT, ensuring the "safety and freedom of movement" of UN personnel.

A "direct political dialogue" between Taiikistan President Emomali Rakhmonov and Abdullo Nuri, Chairman of the Islamic Revival Movement of Taiikistan, was encouraged.

The urgency of the "cessation of all hostile acts on the Tajik-Afghan border" was also stressed, as the Council called upon States and others concerned to "discourage any activities that could complicate or hinder the peace process".

The Council also underlined the need to pursue the "close cooperation already existing" between UNMOT and the parties to the conflict, as well as its "close liaison" with the Collective Peace-keeping Forces of the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS), the border forces and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Tajikistan.

Obligations by the Government to assist the return and reintegration of refugees, as well as by the parties to "cooperate in ensuring the voluntary return, in dignity and safety, of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes", were welcomed.

A 'small step'

The fourth round of inter-Tajik talks, held in Almaty (22 May- 1 June), as well as the Kabul meeting (17-19 May) between President Rakhmonov and Chairman Nuri, constituted "small but positive" steps towards national reconciliation and the restoration of peace in the country, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported (S/1995/472) on 10 June.

At the fourth round, the parties agreed to: exchange an equal number of detainees and prisoners of war by 20 July 1995 and ensure "unobstructed access" of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the joint Commission-established to monitor the 17 September 1994 cease-fire-to "places where detainees and prisoners of war were being held"; and step up efforts to ensure the "voluntary, safe and dignified return" of all refugees and internally displaced people. The Government also consented to suspend, for the duration of the talks, the death sentences of opposition members and subsequently review them.

In Kabul, Mr. Boutros-ghali went on, both sides had confirmed their readiness to solve the inter-Tajik conflict, repatriate all refugees and "stabilize fully the political situation" in Tajikistan. They also decided to extend the Tehran Agreement, including a temporary cease-fire for another three months, untif 26 August, and pledged to make "every possible effort to resolve the conflict through political means at the negotiating table".

Earlier, in the course of the Moscow consultations (19-26 April) held under the UN auspices, the Tajik parties had agreed that all provisions of the Tehran accord would be binding for opposition groups in Afghanistan, it was reported on 12 May (S/1995/390).

'Little progress'

The Secretary-general declared in his 10 June report that "little progress" had been made in addressing the fundamental political results during the 14 months since the first round of inter-Tajik talks in April 1994.

The situation in the country and on its border with Afghanistan remained tense, and the "deepening economic crisis" continued to have a "negative impact on the attempts to achieve political stability", he stated.

While UNMOT had been recognized by the Tajik parties as playing an "instrumental role in containing the conflict", the primary responsibility for its resolution still rested with them. The continued involvement and presence of the UN in Tajikistan depended on the "manner in which the parties discharge that responsibility", he stressed.

Reconcillation urged

The Security Council on 19 May, in urging the Tajik parties to achieve national reconciliation exclusively through peaceful political means on the basis of mutual concessions and compromises", expressed concern over the actions of both sides that posed "obstacies to the peace process".

It also stressed that strict compliance by the parties with all their obligations was a "necessary condition for successful political dialogue".

In a 12 April presidential statement, the Council had expressed "deep concern at the escalation of military activities on the Tajik-Afghan border", resulting in grave loss of life. It reminded the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety of the Special Envoy and all other UN personnel.

It had been reported that on 10 April a land-mine had exploded under a Russian border forces truck, "shortly before Mr. Piriz-Ballon's convoy was to pass" the point on its way to Talokan in northern Afghanistan, where the Special Envoy was to meet Mr. Nuri, the leader of the opposition.

On 26 April, the Council, in reiterating its deep concern at the continuing military activities at the Tajik-Afghan border, noted that an "effective cease-fire was, and continues to be, a necessary condition" for UNMOT deployment.