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OSCE Personal Envoy Ahtisaari visits Tajikistan, discusses 2005 elections and human rights
DUSHANBE 13 May 2004
DUSHANBE, 13 May 2004 - The Personal Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for Central Asia, Martti Ahtisaari, ended a four-day visit to Tajikistan today after meeting local leaders to discuss forthcoming elections in the country and human rights issues.
At his meeting with President Imomali Rakhmonov, he welcomed the announcement of a moratorium on the death penalty by President Rahmonov. Mr. Ahtisaari expressed hope that the 2005 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan will be free and fair.
Other matters discussed included activities of the OSCE Centre in the country and new programmes developed in cooperation with Tajik authorities, such as on land reform and de-mining.
During his visit, the Personal Envoy also had meetings with other senior officials from the government and parliament as well as leaders of Tajik political parties, editors of local newspapers, representatives of national minorities and non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Ahtisaari raised issues relating to the freedom of the press in Tajikistan and the need to reform media laws, the rights of national minorities, the land reform process, gender-related issues and trafficking.
This was the Personal Envoy's third visit to Tajikistan, and part of a tour of Central Asian countries. His next stop will be Kazakhstan.
At his meeting with President Imomali Rakhmonov, he welcomed the announcement of a moratorium on the death penalty by President Rahmonov. Mr. Ahtisaari expressed hope that the 2005 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan will be free and fair.
Other matters discussed included activities of the OSCE Centre in the country and new programmes developed in cooperation with Tajik authorities, such as on land reform and de-mining.
During his visit, the Personal Envoy also had meetings with other senior officials from the government and parliament as well as leaders of Tajik political parties, editors of local newspapers, representatives of national minorities and non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Ahtisaari raised issues relating to the freedom of the press in Tajikistan and the need to reform media laws, the rights of national minorities, the land reform process, gender-related issues and trafficking.
This was the Personal Envoy's third visit to Tajikistan, and part of a tour of Central Asian countries. His next stop will be Kazakhstan.