IV

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 302

Urging the President to promote political stability in Tajikistan through

efforts to encourage political resolution of the conflict and respect for

human rights and through the provision of humanitarian assistance and,

subject to certain conditions, economic assistance

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 30, 1994

Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. GILMAN) submitted the

following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Urging the President to promote political stability in

Tajikistan through efforts to encourage political resolution of the conflict and respect for human rights and

through the provision of humanitarian assistance and,

subject to certain conditions, economic assistance.

Whereas the conflict in Tajikistan between the government

and opposition forces has caused the death of tens of

thousands of persons and has displaced 500,000 persons,

one-tenth of the country’s 5,400,000 people;

Whereas the conflict has been characterized on all sides by

gross human rights violations, abuses, and brutalities, including the murders of children, pregnant women, and
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babies, widespread use of torture, and summary executions;

Whereas the current violence has the potential to cause conflict along ethnic lines between Tajiks and Uzbeks

throughout the region;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called upon

all parties to reach a political solution and seek national

reconciliation;

Whereas the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe has established a mission in Tajikistan to seek ways

to revolve the conflict;

Whereas through the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations to Tajikistan, negotiations are now being conducted;

Whereas elections have been scheduled by the Government of

Tajikistan for November 6, 1994;

Whereas the success of a truly representative government will

assist with the development of a peaceful and stable

Central Asia and beyond;

Whereas the United States has successfully responded to urgent needs for food and other humanitarian assistance in

the past;

Whereas food access rather than availability will be a critical

problem facing Tajikistan for the foreseeable future;

Whereas there remain significant shortages of necessary

building materials, wheat, cooking oil, soap, and shoes;

Whereas lack of fuel nationwide will delay food shipments to

Gorno Badakshan, creating severe food shortages in that

region, and has the potential to cripple the economy;
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Whereas economic assistance can sometimes be given through

nongovernmental organizations, in the form of

microdevelopment projects, thus supporting the economy

from the bottom up;

Whereas continued support for the present of the United Nations and other international organizations and for

microdevelopment projects could encourage the peaceful

return and reintegration of refugees and displaced

Tajiks; and

Whereas any unconditional economic assistance for the

central government in Dushanbe, by any party, amounts

to a failure to take advantage of political leverage to support national reconciliation and human rights: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring),

3 (a) That it is the sense of the Congress that—

4 (1) while the Congress welcomes steps taken by

5 the Government of Tajikistan toward the holding of

6 open elections, it expresses its concerns that nomina7 tion, registration, and voting procedures are inad8 equate to ensure that such elections will be free and

9 fair; and

10 (2) any peacekeeping activities in Tajikistan

11 should be conducted in full conformity with United

12 Nations and international peacekeeping norms and

13 practices.
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1 (b) That it is the further sense of the Congress that

2 the President—

3 (1) should support existing efforts at national

4 reconciliation in Tajikistan, including—

5 (A) those of the Conference on Security

6 and Cooperation in Europe, and

7 (B) the current diplomatic initiatives,

8 through the office of the Special Envoy of the

9 Secretary General of the United Nations to

10 Tajikistan;

11 (2) should seek, through his good offices, to ob12 tain full respect by the Government of Tajikistan for

13 basic freedoms and internationally recognized human

14 rights, including full implementation of Conference

15 on Security and Cooperation in Europe commit16 ments;

17 (3) should maintain support for humanitarian

18 assistance to the people of Tajikistan, including as19 sistance for refugees, internally displaced persons,

20 and returnees, with an eye for encouraging self-suffi21 ciency in as many sectors as possible;

22 (4) should urge the international community to

23 make similar commitments;
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1 (5) should seek to ensure that a substantial

2 portion of assistance provided to Tajikistan is chan3 neled through nongovernmental organizations; and

4 (6) should seek to ensure that economic assist5 ance is provided directly to the Government of

6 Tajikistan only if it is making significant progress

7 in—

8 (A) protecting and facilitating the activi9 ties of human rights groups, including their

10 monitoring of human rights abuses by or upon

11 any party and the training of local human

12 rights organizations;

13 (B) promoting democratic development, in14 cluding free and fair elections;

15 (C) participating in and otherwise facilitat16 ing conflict resolution efforts;

17 (D) terminating interference in the non18 violent activities of the political opposition;

19 (E) allowing the International Committee

20 of the Red Cross to visit prisoners in accord21 ance with its mandate, which includes private

22 interviews with prisoners;

23 (F) participating in and otherwise facilitat24 ing the compilation of a list of all those who
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1 have been extrajudicially executed or have dis2 appeared; and

3 (G) facilitating the protection and

4 reintegration of returnees.

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