OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes step towards peace agreement in Tajikistan

OSLO, 10 August 1999 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk of Norway, welcomes the statement on 3 August by the leadership of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) on the disbandment of the UTO armed formations. The Chairman-in-Office hails this statement as the decisive step towards full implementation of the Protocol of Military Issues of the General Agreement on Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan. It confirms the commitment by Tajik political leaders to carry the implementation of the General Agreement to a succesful conclusion.

The Chairman-in-Office now encourages both parties - the Government of Tajikistan and the UTO Leadership - to use the favourable momentum thus created to lift without delay the bans and limitations on the activities of political parties and mass media, as provided for by the Protocol on Political Issues.

The speeding up of the overall implementation of the General Agreement, culminating in the preparation of the referendum as well as presidential and parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, will be the highest priority issue in the coming months. Together with the other guarantors of the General Agreement, the OSCE remains fully committed to support the efforts of the people of Tajikistan to bring about a lasting peace in which OSCE values and standards will prevail, says the Chairman-in-Office.