Tajikistan and the OSCE: Longstanding cooperation and dialogue
The Republic of Tajikistan signed the Helsinki Final Act
in February 1992.
Pursuance to join the OSCE was dictated by the necessity to use its experience
and means in democratic transformation of the society, maintaining and
strengthening peace and security at the national, regional and international
level, creating key elements of civil
society.
The establishment of strong ties and development of cooperation with different
international structures of security, including the OSCE, corresponds to the
purposes and principles conducted by Tajikistan foreign policy; meets
the interests of strengthening its sovereignty and national security.
The OSCE Mission to Tajikistan
was established by the Rome Ministerial Council Decision 1- 4.1 on 1 December
1994.
In accordance with the Governments
Decree 427 dated October 2, 1996 Tajikistan Permanent Mission to the OSCE was
established in Vienna.
At its 418 Plenary Meeting on October 31, 2002 the OSCE Permanent Council
(Decision 1 - 500) taking into account the progress made since the cessation of
the civil war in the Republic of Tajikistan, recognizing the change of the
focus of activities of the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan decided to change the name
of the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, including its field offices to the OSCE
Center in Dushanbe.
Considering the work carried out since the establishment of the OSCE Mission to
Tajikistan in 1994, and subsequently the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe in 2002, as well
as substantial changes in the socio-political and socio-economic life in
Tajikistan during the recent years by the Decision 1 852 (19 June 2008) the
OSCE Permanent Council has decided to change the mandate of the Center and
transformed it into the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
At a moment cooperation focused at solutions related strengthening of security and further sustainable economic
development of Tajikistan.
In accordance with the last Mandate the OSCE Office in Tajikistan was
given the following tasks:
- to promote the implementation of
OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of
Tajikistan within the OSCE framework, with special emphasis on the regional
context, in all OSCE dimensions, including the economic, environmental, human
and political aspects of security and stability;
- to assist the Republic of
Tajikistan in the development of common approaches to problems and threats to
security, taking into account the commitments of the Republic of Tajikistan to
contribute to stability and security, to prevent conflicts and take measures
for crisis management, as well as in the areas of, inter alia,
police-related activities, border management and security and anti-trafficking;
- to support the efforts of the
Republic of Tajikistan to fully develop the economic and environmental
dimension and implement commitments stipulated in the Helsinki Final Act and
other documents of the Organization, inter alia in the fields of free
trade, the improvement of business contacts and possibilities, the development
of energy and transport, investments, scientific and technical exchanges, the
protection of the environment and good governance with a special emphasis on
the regional context;
- to assist the Republic of
Tajikistan in the human dimension to fully implement its commitments, inter
alia, promoting ways and means for the OSCE to assist in the development of
a legal framework and democratic political institutions and processes including
the respect for human rights;
- to facilitate contacts and promote
information exchange with the Chairman-in-Office and OSCE bodies;
- to co-operate with local
authorities, institutions, and international organizations and
NGOs;
- to liaise and co-operate closely with the other OSCE field operations in the
region in order to maintain coherence of the regional approach of the OSCE;
-to continue efforts in building
national capacity and expertise within its area of responsibility in order to
facilitate an efficient transfer of tasks to the Republic of Tajikistan;
At present the negotiations on the
Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Tajikistan and OSCE
on the OSCE Office in Tajikistan
are in process.
The Third Annual Joint Task Meeting
hold 20 February 2009 inDushanbe brought
together nearly 100 OSCE officials and representatives from different
ministries and governmental bodies. During the discussions, participants
elaborated the role of Tajikistan
in the OSCE new developments since the 2008. The Task Force meeting and plans
to assist the country further, based on the OSCE is new man date.
The OSCE Border Management staff
college, which will help train border security managers and promote cooperation
between OSCE states and partner countries, was launched in Dushanbe on 27 May 2009. President Emomali Rahmon
received a group of OSCE ambassadors of 12 participating countries, including Greece, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Germany,
the Netherlands, Norway, Spain,
USA, Finland, Russia
and representatives from ConflictPreventionCenter.
On February 19, 2009 Government of
Tajikistan together with the OSCE Office in Tajikistan celebrated 15th
anniversary with a ceremony that launched a book featuring the OSCE's
contribution to the Country. Hamrokhon Zarifi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
presented a book titled "Tajikistan - OSCE dialogue and cooperation", which had been published with the support of
the OSCE Office.
Among the important programs and projects has been implemented in Tajikistan in
the framework of political and military dimension is the Program on destruction
of surplus stockpiles of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition,
and improvement of stockpile security, as well as mine clearance and border
management. Addressing the official request of the Government of Tajikistan the
OSCE relevant structures developed certain projects on strengthening the
security of the state borders, focusing on the drafting of the national border
management strategy, capacity building of border patrolling groups, provision
of facilities to the customs post "Kulma" in Murgab, as well as assistance in
organizing short - and long-term training courses for Afghan border guards.
In the sphere of human dimension the
OSCE continues supporting of Tajik Government to meet its OSCE commitments
regarding human rights and rule of law and democratization. Recently, an
important step was taken by the Government of Tajikistan in the way of
establishment of Ombudsmen Office in Tajikistan. On 27 May 2009, the
President of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon signed the Decree
nominating Zarif Alizoda as the first Tajik Human Rights Ombudsman in Tajikistan.
The Decree and parliamentary endorsement are the first steps in implementing of
Law on the Ombudsman institution that was passed in March 2008.
In the economic and environmental field certain activities of the OSCE in Tajikistan are
mainly focused on supporting of small - and medium-size enterprise development,
as well assisting government efforts to carry out small hydro power facilities,
land reform, tackle land degradation, radioactive contamination and irregular
labor migration.
On 31 July 2009 the OSCE
Chairmanship has appointed Ambassador Ivar Vikki as a Head of Organization's
Office in Tajikistan.
Today the OSCE Office in Tajikistan
maintains 5 field offices in the country (Khujand, Kulyab, Kurgan-Tyube, Garm
and Shartuz).
Annually, since 1996 top OSCE officials among them OSCE Chairmen-in-Office,
Secretary-General, Heads of ODHIR, Parliamentary Assembly and High Commissioner
on National minorities have been visiting Tajikistan to get acquainted with the
political situation in Tajikistan, the process of democratic transformations,
as well as perspectives of further cooperation between Tajikistan and the OSCE.