103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 302
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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, in-
cluding the murders of children, pregnant women, and
babies, widespread use of torture, and summary execu-
tions;
Whereas the current violence has the potential to cause con-
flict along ethnic lines between Tajiks and Uzbeks
throughout the region;
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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 Eu-
rope has established a mission in Tajikistan to seek ways
to revolve the conflict;
Whereas through the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Sec-
retary General of the United Nations to Tajikistan, nego-
tiations 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 ur-
gent 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;
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 Na-
tions and other international organizations and for
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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 sup-
port national reconciliation and human rights: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
(a) That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) while the Congress welcomes steps taken by
the Government of Tajikistan toward the holding of
open elections, it expresses its concerns that nomina-
tion, registration, and voting procedures are inad-
equate to ensure that such elections will be free and
fair; and
(2) any peacekeeping activities in Tajikistan
should be conducted in full conformity with United
Nations and international peacekeeping norms and
practices.
(b) That it is the further sense of the Congress that
the President—
(1) should support existing efforts at national
reconciliation in Tajikistan, including—
(A) those of the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe, and
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(B) the current diplomatic initiatives,
through the office of the Special Envoy of the
Secretary General of the United Nations to
Tajikistan;
(2) should seek, through his good offices, to ob-
tain full respect by the Government of Tajikistan for
basic freedoms and internationally recognized human
rights, including full implementation of Conference
on Security and Cooperation in Europe commit-
ments;
(3) should maintain support for humanitarian
assistance to the people of Tajikistan, including as-
sistance for refugees, internally displaced persons,
and returnees, with an eye for encouraging self-suffi-
ciency in as many sectors as possible;
(4) should urge the international community to
make similar commitments;
(5) should seek to ensure that a substantial
portion of assistance provided to Tajikistan is chan-
neled through nongovernmental organizations; and
(6) should seek to ensure that economic assist-
ance is provided directly to the Government of
Tajikistan only if it is making significant progress
in—