INTER-TAJIK TALKS DELAYED.

Negotiations between the Tajik government and opposition failed to start yesterday in Tehran as scheduled. Announcing the postponement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry predicted that negotiations will be "strenuous" because of the "complicated problems" of defining the functions and powers of the National Reconciliation Commission, which is envisaged by the December 23 Moscow agreement. (Itar-Tass, Interfax, January 5). That agreement essentially deferred the resolution of disputed issues to follow-up negotiations (see Monitor, December 23, and Perspective section below).

Uzbekistan Passes Budget.