Tajikistan.

• Position: UN Secretary Kofi Annan's meeting with Pres. Emomali Rakhmonov

Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 9 June, in a meeting with President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan at Headquarters, expressed serious concern at the recent decision of the Tajik Parliament to adopt an act which would effectively prohibit the Islamic Revival Party - the largest component of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) - from participation in the political life of the country, which would remove one of the main pillars of the General Peace Agreement - the legalization of banned political parties following the public declaration by the UTO of the disbandment of its armed forces. He hoped that the Conciliation Commission established by President Rakhmonov would resolve that matter in the spirit of the General Agreement.

On 18 June, the Commission reached a consensus to replace the contentious provision of the bill with a new text that would prohibit the use of religious contributions for political purposes. President Rakhmonov has referred the revised draft to Parliament, where it awaits consideration.

The Security Council on 14 May, in expressing concern at the precarious security situation in some parts of the country, extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) for a further six months, until 15 November. By unanimously adopting resolution 1167 (1998), the Council called upon the parties involved - the Government of Tajikistan and the UTO - to undertake vigorous efforts to implement fully the General Agreement, to create conditions for the holding of elections at the earliest possible dine. It called on the parties to implement the timetable of measures adopted on 29 April by the Commission on National Reconciliation, including the Protocol on military issues, the appointment of UTO representatives to the remaining government positions allocated to them and the amnesty law. In condemning renewed fighting in violation of the ceasefire resulting from attacks initiated by local UTO commanders, the Council called on all concerned to refrain from acts of violence.

Member States and others...