• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

11 August 1999

Text: OSCE Welcomes Major Step Towards Peace in Tajikistan

(Vollebaek says "decisive" step taken in implementing peace accord)
(370)
The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut
Vollebaek, has praised opposition forces in Tajikistan for agreeing to
disband their armed formations.
In a press release issued August 10 in Oslo, Vollebaek called the
announcement "the decisive step" towards resolving military issues
under the peace agreement for Tajikistan. He then urged opposition
leaders and the Tajik government to resolve political issues so the
peace agreement can be fully implemented.
Following is the text of the OSCE release:
(begin text)
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE
The Secretariat
Vienna, Austria 
August 10, 1999
OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE WELCOMES MAJOR STEP TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF
PEACE AGREEMENT IN TAJIKISTAN
OSLO, 10 August 1999 -- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Foreign
Minister Knut Vollebaek 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 successful 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.
For further information contact OSCE Press and Public Information
Section, Tel (+43-1-) 514 36 180, e-mail: info@osce.org
(end text)