United Nations Security Council Resolution 968
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
968, adopted unanimously on December 16, 1994, after noting statements by the President of the Security Council
and reports by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
on the situation in Tajikistan
, the Council established the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
(UNMOT) and addressed the process of national reconciliation in the country.
and Gorno-Badakhshan regions, which were underrepresented in the ruling elite, rose up against the national government of President Rahmon Nabiyev, in which people from the Leninabad
and Kulyab regions dominated. The opposition fought under the banner of the United Tajik Opposition
, which turned to rebels in Afghanistan
for military aid.
in force and an extension of the talks were agreed in agreements signed in Islamabad
, Pakistan
and Tehran
, Iran
. There was a protocol signed on a Joint Commission to implement the agreements. The primary responsibility of the Tajik parties was to resolve their differences and that the provision of international assistance must be linked to the process of national reconciliation which included free and fair elections and confidence-building measures. The commitment of both parties to resolve the conflict was welcomed. Peacekeepers
from the Commonwealth of Independent States
would co-operate with the United Nations peacekeeping force in monitoring the ceasefire.
to assist the Joint Commission in the implementation of the political agreements; to investigate and report on ceasefire violations; to mediate with the Tajik parties and peacekeeping forces in the country; to support the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy; to co-operate in the distribution of humanitarian assistance
.
The mission was established for an initial period of six months but would only be extended beyond February 6, 1995 when the parties extended agreements on a durable ceasefire, reconciliation and the promotion of democracy
. Tajikistan was called upon to enter into a Status of Mission Agreement
with the United Nations. The Government of Tajikistan and United Tajik Opposition had to reach a political agreement as soon as possible.
The release of prisoners of war
on November 12, 1994 in Khorugh was welcomed and further confidence-building measures were called for. Unhindered access from the International Committee of the Red Cross
to the prisoners of war was urged. All countries were asked to co-operate in the reconciliation process in Tajikistan and to provide humanitarian assistance. The Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
was asked to set up a fund to which voluntary contributions could be made.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
968, adopted unanimously on December 16, 1994, after noting statements by the President of the Security Council
President of the United Nations Security Council
The President of the United Nations Security Council is the presiding officer of that body. The president is the head of the delegation from the Security Council member state that holds the rotating presidency.-Selection:...
and reports by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
on the situation in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, the Council established the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
The United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan was a peacekeeping mission established by the United Nations Security Council in December 1994 and extended on several occasions until its mandate expired in May 2000. Its purpose was to monitor peace agreements during and after the Tajikistan...
(UNMOT) and addressed the process of national reconciliation in the country.
Background
Tensions began in the spring of 1992 after opposition members took to the streets in demonstrations against the results of the 1991 presidential election. Ethnic groups from the GarmGarm, Tajikistan
Gharm, , is a district in the Rasht Valley area of central Tajikistan.From the 1920s until 1955 there was a Gharm Oblast in Tajikistan, which included the territory of the current Gharm Valley...
and Gorno-Badakhshan regions, which were underrepresented in the ruling elite, rose up against the national government of President Rahmon Nabiyev, in which people from the Leninabad
Leninabad
- Azerbaijan :*Leninabad, Nakhchivan*Leninabad, Shamkir*Sanqalan*Təklə, Gobustan...
and Kulyab regions dominated. The opposition fought under the banner of the United Tajik Opposition
United Tajik Opposition
The United Tajik Opposition was an alliance of democratic, liberal and Islamist forces that fought in the Tajik Civil War from 1992 to 1997 against administration of President Emomali Rahmonov....
, which turned to rebels in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
for military aid.
Observations
There were talks underway between the government and opposition in Tajikistan. There was a temporary ceasefireCeasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
in force and an extension of the talks were agreed in agreements signed in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. There was a protocol signed on a Joint Commission to implement the agreements. The primary responsibility of the Tajik parties was to resolve their differences and that the provision of international assistance must be linked to the process of national reconciliation which included free and fair elections and confidence-building measures. The commitment of both parties to resolve the conflict was welcomed. Peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
from the Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
would co-operate with the United Nations peacekeeping force in monitoring the ceasefire.
Acts
The Security Council then established UNMOT, consisting of 40 military observers, and 18 international and 26 local staff, with the following mandate:to assist the Joint Commission in the implementation of the political agreements; to investigate and report on ceasefire violations; to mediate with the Tajik parties and peacekeeping forces in the country; to support the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy; to co-operate in the distribution of humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
.
The mission was established for an initial period of six months but would only be extended beyond February 6, 1995 when the parties extended agreements on a durable ceasefire, reconciliation and the promotion of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. Tajikistan was called upon to enter into a Status of Mission Agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
with the United Nations. The Government of Tajikistan and United Tajik Opposition had to reach a political agreement as soon as possible.
The release of prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
on November 12, 1994 in Khorugh was welcomed and further confidence-building measures were called for. Unhindered access from the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
to the prisoners of war was urged. All countries were asked to co-operate in the reconciliation process in Tajikistan and to provide humanitarian assistance. The Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
was asked to set up a fund to which voluntary contributions could be made.
See also
- History of TajikistanHistory of TajikistanThe current Tajik Republic harkens to the Samanid Empire . The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s. The Basmachi revolt that broke out in the wake of the Russian Revolution of 1917 was quelled in the early 1920s and Tajikistan became an autonomous Soviet socialist republic within...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)