TAJIK OPPOSITION LEADER REAFFIRMS TERMS FOR NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.

United Tajik Opposition first deputy chairman Akbar Turajonzoda told The Monitor by telephone that the UTO persists in seeking negotiations toward a power-sharing agreement with the Dushanbe government. "That’s how it is in all countries after a civil war. In Angola for example, or Cambodia. The Tajik authorities keep referring to the constitution, which they adopted without the participation of our supporters. We get the impression that Rahmonov still isn’t ready for a meeting with [UTO chairman] Saidabdullo Nuri," Turajonzoda told The Monitor. He stressed that, despite its recent military successes (See Monitor, October 28 and November 5), the opposition will not pursue outright victory. "That would lead to a lot of bloodshed, and to an open confrontation with Russian troops. We will stick to guerrilla tactics — strike a blow, then vanish. Our main goal is to persuade Moscow once and for all to stop supporting the Rahmonov regime." Reacting to UN envoy Hans-Dietrich Merrem’s recent accusations that the UTO was violating the ceasefire, Turajonzoda pointed out that the opposition was being "forced to respond to the government troops’ operations."

Nuri has recently confirmed the known position that he is willing to hold talks with Rahmonov in Moscow if the subject is the formation of transitional power bodies, including a national council and a coalition government, pending preparations for internationally-supervised free elections. Moscow, with the UN envoy’s support, insists on holding such a meeting in the Russian capital under Russian arbitration, but supports Dushanbe’s insistence on observance of existing constitutional arrangements imposed after the 1992 civil war.

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