Tehran, 8 January 1997 (RFE/RL) -- The Tajik government today offered its proposal for a National Reconciliation Commission meant to lead the country through transition after four years of civil war.
But deputy opposition leader Akbar Turajonzode told RFE/RL that the government plan violates a recent Moscow-brokered peace agreement.
The Commission is to be set up under an accord signed last month in Moscow by Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and Islamic Opposition leader Said Abdullah Nuri. Talks on implementing the Moscow accords are now taking place in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Our correspondent in Tehran says Dushanbe wants 80 percent of Commission members to be appointed by the government, while 20 percent would represent opposition forces. The government plan says the Commission should approve decisions by a two-thirds vote, and that its role would be "advisory."
Opposition leaders say such a structure would make it impossible for them to put forth any of their demands. Turajonzode told RFE/RL that the opposition is categorically refusing the proposal. The opposition presented its own commission proposal yesterday.
At the peace accord signing last month, the Tajik government said the Commission would bring opposition figures into all levels of government. Government negotiator Ibrahim Usmanov told RFE/RL today that Dushanbe's proposal is in accordance with the Moscow agreement. The commission also is supposed to work to amend Tajikistan's constitution and draw up a new electoral law.