Tajikistan reforms deserve further OSCE support, says Chairman-in-Office

DUSHANBE, 8 April 2004 - Visiting Tajikistan on the fourth stop of his five-day visit to the Central Asian States, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, discussed OSCE support for further democratic development of the country with the Tajik President, Emomali Rahmonov.

He also held separate meetings with the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Talbak Nazarov, and with Mahmadsaid Ubaidelloev, Mayor of Dushanbe and Chairman of the Upper House of Parliament. Later he met the Chairman of the Lower House, Saidullo Hairuleov.

In his meetings, Minister Passy praised the Government for maintaining the peace agreement which had ended the 1991 to 97 civil war and for progress made since then in the National Dialogue with the opposition. "At the same time, I wish to offer further OSCE support in areas that will assist the development of democracy and security in your country."

The Chairman-in-Office and the Tajik Foreign Minister spoke warmly about the activities of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe to help rid the country of land-mines. At the end of their meeting an agreement allowing for the second phase of the Mine Action Project to go ahead was officially signed.

Introducing other priorities on the OSCE agenda, Minister Passy said the OSCE was following progress on the electoral legal framework and hoped future drafting would incorporate more of the recommendations by OSCE electoral experts to broaden participation by political parties and the population.

"We have a very professional body, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, that is ready to offer its help on this matter as well as with the holding of important elections in Tajikistan in 2005," he added.

Turning to the question of media freedom, Minister Passy said: "The OSCE has vast expertise at its disposal. One approach in Bulgaria is to manage without a media law, on the basis that media function best without specific regulations. But there are other possible approaches and I would offer our experience along with that of the other 53 participating States for your country's consideration in framing this legislation."

On penal reform, the CiO praised the decision to move responsibility for prisons to the Ministry of Justice and permit Red Cross visits, as well as the narrowing of the list of offences that carry the death penalty. He urged the authorities to consider further steps leading to a reduction and eventual abolition of capital punishment, for which he had personally worked successfully as a parliamentarian in Bulgaria.

During the meetings he expressed the readiness of the OSCE to deepen co-operation over other issues, including border management, the United Nations action against the use of torture, anti-trafficking measures, and economic and environmental dimension projects.

Later in the day, Minister Passy also held meetings with representatives of political parties and civil society.