United Nations Security Council Resolution 1240 – Tajikistan and Tajik-Afghan border
Resolution 1240 (1999)
The Security Council,
Recalling all its relevant resolutions and the statements of its President,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Tajikistan of 6 May 1999 (S/1999/514),
Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity ofthe Republic of Tajikistan and to the inviolability of its borders,
Welcoming progress in the peace process in Tajikistan and the effective maintenance of the ceasefire between the Government of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition, while underlining that more needs to be done to translate agreements and decisions into concrete actions and to deal with the many pending issues,
Welcoming also the renewed efforts of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leadership of the Commission on National Reconciliation (CNR)to advance and to expedite the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan (S/1997/510), which have helped to achieve movement on both military and political issues,
Welcoming further the maintenance of close contact by the United NationsMission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) with the parties, as well as its cooperative liaison with the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealthof Independent States (the CIS Peacekeeping Forces), the Russian border forcesand the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE),
Noting with appreciation the continued contribution of the Contact Group Of Guarantor States and International Organizations to the peace process, in particular through periodic joint plenary meetings with the CNR to review progress in the implementation of the General Agreement,
Welcoming the fact that the general situation in Tajikistan has remained relatively calm with better security than in earlier periods while noting that the situation in some parts of the country remained tense,
Recognizing that comprehensive international support remains crucial for achieving a positive outcome of the peace process in Tajikistan,
- Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 6 May 1999;
2. Calls upon the parties to speed up the full and sequentialimplementation, in a balanced manner, of the General Agreement, especially theProtocol on military issues (S/1997/209, annex II), and to create conditions forthe holding in 1999 of a constitutional referendum, as well as for the timelyholding of presidential and parliamentary elections, and encourages the CNR tointensify its efforts aimed at the institution of a broad dialogue among thevarious political forces in the country in the interests of restoration andstrengthening of civil accord in Tajikistan;
3. Notes with appreciation the work of the Special Representative of theSecretary-General and of all the personnel of UNMOT, encourages them to continue assisting the parties in the implementation of the General Agreement, notes thatthe reopening of field offices should strengthen the Mission in this regard,underlines the need for the Mission to have the necessary personnel andfinancial support and requests the Secretary-General to continue to considermeans of ensuring a full and active role for UNMOT in the implementation of theGeneral Agreement;
4. Encourages OSCE to continue its close cooperation with the UnitedNations on matters relating to constitutional reform, democratization andelections as requested under the General Agreement;
5. Supports the active political work of the Contact Group in promotingthe implementation of the General Agreement and considers that a meeting of thisGroup at the level of Foreign Ministers could lend further impetus to the peaceprocess;
6. Welcomes the continued contribution made by the CIS PeacekeepingForces in assisting the parties in the implementation of the General Agreementin coordination with all concerned;
7. Calls upon the parties to cooperate further in ensuring the securityand freedom of movement of the personnel of the United Nations, the CIS Peacekeeping Forces and other international personnel and reminds the partiesthat the ability of the international community to mobilize and to continueassistance for Tajikistan is linked to the security of those personnel;
8. Calls upon Member States and others concerned to make voluntarycontributions to launch projects for demobilization and to provide support forthe elections, and to respond promptly and generously to the consolidated inter-agency appeal for Tajikistan for 1999;
9. Decides to extend the mandate of UNMOT for a period of six monthsuntil 15 November 1999;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed of allsignificant developments and also requests him to report within three months ofthe adoption of this resolution on its implementation;
11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 4004th meeting,on 15 May 1999.
