Seminar on Democracy and Good Governance for Tajikistan

March 18, 1999

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding the Seminar on Democracy and Good Governance for Tajikistan from March 7 through 20, 1999 in Tokyo with the cooperation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The seminar was participated by Amirsho Miraliev, State Adviser of the President, Executive Body of the President of Tajikistan, officials of the Tajik government, and members both from government side and UTO (the United Tajik Opposition) side of the Commission for National Reconciliation (CNR), which plays a central role in Tajikistan's peace process.

The two-week seminar was organized to promote and support the Peace Process in Tajikistan, which is conducted by the United Nations.

During the seminar, the participants from Tajikistan were given lectures on experiences of modernization and democratization in Japan and other countries by Japanese experts. The lectures covered, among others, parliamentary, judicial, electoral systems of Japan as well as successful peace processes in other countries. Besides, opportunity for discussion was provided for Tajik participants and Japanese researchers and students on the current state of the peace process, and reconstruction and nation building after reconciliation. Tajik participants also visited Hokkaido where they called at prefectural office and visited the Slavic Research Center at Hokkaido University.

On March 18, the Panel Discussion was held to sum up the seminar, attended, among others, by officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JICA, the United Nations, and Japanese and foreign researchers and experts specializing in Tajikistan and Central Asia. Intensive discussion was held on the structure and historical background of the Tajik problem, prospect for reconciliation and reconstruction, and roles of the international community.

Peace in Tajikistan is indispensable for the peace and stability of the entire region of Central Asia. Japan continues to promote and support the peace process conducted by the United Nations. The seminar gave an excellent opportunity for the government and the former opposition sides who are responsible for reconstruction and nation building after reconciliation, to meet and deepen mutual knowledge on democratization and social and economic rehabilitation of their country. Mr. Miraliev, State Adviser of the President, and other participants highly appreciated the seminar. It is hoped that Tajik people promote the peace process and reconstruction, exercising their ownership and utilizing the outcome of this seminar and other assistance.

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