Joint statement by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, E. Sh. Rakhmonov, and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition, S. A. Nuri

11 December 1996

We, having met on 10 and 11 December 1996 in northern Afghanistan, have agreed, in the presence of the President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Tajikistan, Mr. G. D. Merrem, to meet on 19 December 1996 in Moscow. The aim of the meeting will be to resolve issues related to the Tajiks' fate through negotiation and consolidation in order to get our sufferring people out of their deep difficulties and to achieve national reconciliation in the country. To that end, we are concluding an agreement proclaiming the establishment of a council on national reconciliation. Meanwhile, we express our intention to announce a ceasefire for the entire period of the inter-Tajik talks.

During our meeting in Afghanistan we also signed a protocol aimed at halting the fighting as well as restoring the work of the hukumats ( executive committees) and official structures in the Karategin and Tavildara areas.

We hope that the documents prepared by us will define the most appropriate way towards national accord and mutual confidence and lay the ground for achieving the essential purposes of the nation. There is nothing better than mutual confidence for achieveing our goal.

We request the United Nations Secretary-General to recommend to the Security Council that it extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan.

We express our sincere gratitude to the President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Tajikistan, Mr. Gerd Merrem, and the Governments of the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran and all observer States at the inter-Tajik talks for their efforts in arranging this meeting.

E Sh. Rakhmonov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan S A. Nuri, Leader of the United Tajik Opposition

G. D. Merrem, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Tajikistan

Northern Afghanistan, 11 December 1996

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