Newsroom
Dushanbe roundtable marks seventh anniversary of end of civil war
DUSHANBE 22 July 2004
DUSHANBE, 22 July 2004 - Strengthening national unity through the development of a multi-party system, civil society, elections and media freedom were the focus of a roundtable held yesterday in the Tajik capital to mark the end in 1997 of the country's bitter civil war.
More than 50 representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, national minorities, civil society and the government took part in the event. The roundtable was organized by the Public Council of Tajikistan with support from the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe.
Presidential Adviser Salohiddinov Isomidin spoke about the situation seven years after the signing of the Peace Agreement on 27 June 1997, which marked the end of the five-year-long civil war.
"The UN and the OSCE have an important role not only in the peace-making process, but also in the political and economical development of the country" he said.
Ambassador Yves Bargain, Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, recalled the importance of the OSCE in the establishment of the peace agreement and in rebuilding the country after the civil war.
"Activities to strengthen democracy, ensure transparent elections and media freedom are vitally important for rebuilding," he said.
The Head of Centre gave examples of the wide range of OSCE activities in Tajikistan, such as civic education programmes for building a democratic and civil society, seminars for representatives of political parties, human rights advocacy, gender issues, economic and ecological problems, and helping the development of a free and independent media.
More than 50 representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, national minorities, civil society and the government took part in the event. The roundtable was organized by the Public Council of Tajikistan with support from the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe.
Presidential Adviser Salohiddinov Isomidin spoke about the situation seven years after the signing of the Peace Agreement on 27 June 1997, which marked the end of the five-year-long civil war.
"The UN and the OSCE have an important role not only in the peace-making process, but also in the political and economical development of the country" he said.
Ambassador Yves Bargain, Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, recalled the importance of the OSCE in the establishment of the peace agreement and in rebuilding the country after the civil war.
"Activities to strengthen democracy, ensure transparent elections and media freedom are vitally important for rebuilding," he said.
The Head of Centre gave examples of the wide range of OSCE activities in Tajikistan, such as civic education programmes for building a democratic and civil society, seminars for representatives of political parties, human rights advocacy, gender issues, economic and ecological problems, and helping the development of a free and independent media.